Liverpool supporters are getting excited about the prospect of seeing Jeremy Jacquet arrive as a new signing this summer.
The Reds officially secured the young Frenchman after beating Chelsea to his signature on transfer deadline day.
Since then, fans have been learning all about Jacquet and just how highly rated he is back home in France.
Are you confident Liverpool will beat Manchester City this weekend?
Alisson before Marseille vs Liverpool - UEFA Champions League
Credit: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu/Getty Images
Expectations are already beginning to soar, and there is huge promise for Jacquet’s potential partnership with Virgil van Dijk.
In yet more praise, the 20-year-old has now been told that he can define a generation of defenders during his spell at Liverpool, both with and without Van Dijk.
Jeremy Jacquet’s former coach excited by potential
In Jacquet, Liverpool fans are hoping that they have secured a player who can lead their defence once the legendary Van Dijk has left the club.
And according to the youngster’s former coach at U19 level Laurent Viaud, Jacquet has everything in his locker to follow in his new captain’s footsteps.
Jeremy Jacquet pictured in action for Rennes during their Ligue 1 match against Monaco
Photo by Neal Simpson/Allstar/Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Liverpool’s ‘enigmatic’ approach to the transfer market under Richard Hughes revealed
“I think the recruiters have seen in Jerem the heir to Van Dijk because in a lot of areas Jerem looks like him,” Viaud, who spent more than four years as a scout at Liverpool, said to The Guardian.
“I would almost say he is faster than Van Dijk. He has to learn from players like Van Dijk, but there is a lot of similarity between the two
“I was from the generation of Marcel Desailly – I was at school with him. Jerem is Desailly on the defensive side and Laurent Blanc on the attacking side; he’s a mix of the two. When you see the careers the two of them had, honestly, I can’t imagine how far Jerem can go. He can really define his generation of defenders.”
The year is 2030, how much is Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet worth!? 💰
Jeremy Jacquet celebrates after scoring for France during their U19 European Championship match against Turkiye. Jeremy Jacquet during Olympique de Marseille v Stade Rennais - French Cup 2025/2026
Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile/UEFA/Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images
Will Jacquet and Van Dijk start together?
Given the money Liverpool have spent on Jacquet, it does feel as though he can rightfully be named as the heir to Van Dijk’s throne at Anfield.
However, it is also worth remembering that the Rennes defender is still only 20 years old.
It would be a gamble for the Reds to go into next season with Jacquet as the nominal replacement for Ibrahima Konate as Van Dijk’s regular partner, no matter how much potential he possesses.
There will be a plan at Liverpool, and that could involve rotating Jacquet with Giovanni Leoni as they both acclimatise to the Premier League.
Liverpool may also continue to look for another, more experienced defender, however, and that could mean that Jacquet and Van Dijk do not play together as much as expected. Still, the young man can learn so much from his illustrious new teammate and whether it’s only for one year or longer, that is an exciting prospect.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox