Ifeanyi Ndukwe. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Ifeanyi Ndukwe. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool have tied up deals to sign five defenders below the age of 20 in the past six months.
Arne Slot hailed Liverpool’s hierarchy for securing the services of ‘big talent’ Jeremy Jacquet.
The Reds secured the services of the centre-back on winter transfer deadline day for a fee of £60 million. Jacquet will remain at Rennes for the rest of the season before moving to Anfield on 1 July.
The 20-year-old has been in excellent form for Rennes this season. His performances led to Chelsea and Bayern Munich trying to secure his services. But Liverpool persuaded Jacquet that they were the right club for him - and Slot is delighted.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash against Man City, Liverpool boss Slot said: "Very pleasing of course. He's a very big talent and maybe even more than talent but we speak about talent because of his age. Second, because we weren't the only one interested in him so it's a big compliment to the people working really hard to sign players.
"Such a big talent and another example of the model we're using at this club - young, very talented players sometimes at the start of their careers or sometimes already a little bit a few years into their career but always players that are young and can improve us in the short term but also definitely in the long term.
"We've signed a lot of them recently and like I've said many times in the mid-long term future of this club, and even the short term, is in a very good place."
Jacquet’s arrival in the summer will mean Liverpool have signed five young centre-backs within a year. Last August, the Reds splashed out £26 million on Giovanni Leoni from Parma. Leoni would have featured much more this season had he not suffered a ruptured ACL on debut.
In the January window, Liverpool added Mor Talla Ndiaye and Noah Adekoya from Amitie FC and Burnley respectively. In addition, they agreed a deal in principle to sign Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna at the end of the campaign when he turns aged 18.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk turns 35 in July. While he continues to be the bedrock of the Reds’ team, he is out of contract in 2027. Slot believes that the recent business shows that Liverpool are planning for lift after Van Dijk whenever he does depart.
“You are longer here than I am so if I tell you they do everything with a reason and I don't think you are surprised,” added Slot. “Everything done over here is never from panic, it's always long term idea and or something that has been thought about for a long time and not only one person.
“Of course, we are aware of the fact that Virgil won't play for 10 years but he has one-and-a-half year contract left, so he will be with us for that time, maybe longer even longer if he keeps staying fit as fit as he is now. I've said before what a compliment to him at his age to play every three days, not only now for our club but for his country for seven or eight months already.
“Hopefully, he can stay as fit as he is for multiple years but this club is not stupid. We do know somewhere in the upcoming years, there is life for this club after Virgil. You are talking about Virgil but I can say this for every position. This club is not only thinking short-term future but also the mid to long-term future.”
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