The French club have officially axed Habib Beye following a dismal defeat. This has left Liverpool’s marquee winter signing in a state of limbo after a “serious” shoulder injury.
Liverpool’s carefully managed winter window has been thrown into disarray. This followed a catastrophic 48 hours for new signing Jeremy Jacquet. While the club celebrated a £60 million agreement for the French sensation on deadline day, the 20-year-old’s developmental loan at Stade Rennais has turned into a nightmare scenario.
While the outside perception of Liverpool’s January window might be one of “quiet” inactivity, the reality within the AXA Training Centre is far more complex. In contrast, the club’s leadership appears to have prioritised a “future-proofing” strategy over immediate, short-term fixes, rather than a lack of productivity.
The £60 million deal for Jeremy Jacquet serves as the perfect example. It is a massive financial commitment that technically leaves the current squad unchanged. Nevertheless, it significantly shifts the club’s long-term outlook and should benefit Liverpool’s ambitions for years ahead.
The strategic “quiet”: quality over quantity
Liverpool’s recruitment team, led by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, has historically avoided the chaotic “panic buying” that often defines the winter window. Instead of signing a stop-gap midfielder or defender to plug a temporary hole, the club opted to invest heavily in a single, high-ceiling talent.
But their primary investment has already hit a major snag. Jeremy Jacquet, the 20-year-old center-back who commanded a fee of up to £60 million, now faces a daunting recovery period. This follows a harrowing injury in France, impacting Liverpool’s expectations for his development.
While the plan involved Jacquet remaining at Stade Rennais to polish his skills before a summer move to Anfield, that development path has hit a double roadblock. These include a potential season-ending injury and the immediate sacking of his manager. Ultimately, Jacquet’s journey is closely linked with Liverpool’s hopes for the future.
A “serious” blow for the £60m starlet
The injury occurred during Rennes 3-1 defeat to RC Lens. In the 69th minute, Jacquet collapsed in significant distress, clutching his left shoulder and screaming in pain. The medical staff rushed to his aid, eventually helping the youngster off the pitch as he cradled his arm in a makeshift sling. This unfortunate event is particularly concerning for Liverpool supporters anticipating his arrival.
Before he was unceremoniously dismissed following the match, Rennes head coach at the time Habib Beye provided an ominous update on the defender’s condition.
“For Jeremy, it’s his shoulder, and for Abdelhamid [Ait Boudlal, the other Rennes player injured] it’s muscular,” Beye said in his post-match interview. “We’ll have time to see, but it’s definitely quite serious for both of them.”
French publication L’Equipe further fueled Anfield anxieties by reporting that Jacquet could spend “a long time” on the sidelines. The 20-year-old may require surgery to stabilise the shoulder. This procedure would effectively end his farewell season in Ligue 1. It’s an outcome nobody at Liverpool wants to see.
Coaching chaos in Brittany
As if the physical setback wasn’t enough, the environment surrounding Jacquet has shifted overnight. Following the Lens defeat, Rennes took the extraordinary step of “initiating proceedings” against Habib Beye and his entire coaching staff. This saga echoes unpredictability for both Rennes and Liverpool.
With Beye gone the man who specifically recalled Jacquet from Clermont to make him a starter, the defender’s immediate future is now in the hands of interim coaches Sébastien Tambouret, Pierre-Alexandre Lelievre, and Maxime Le Marchand. Additionally, reports suggest former Lens boss Franck Haise will soon take the permanent role. That means Jacquet must impress a new manager while confined to the treatment room. This situation affects Liverpool as well, given their purchase in the player.
🇫🇷 Rennes have announced the suspension of head coach Habib Beye and his assistants.
“Rennes have initiated disciplinary proceedings against head coach Habib Beye and his assistants Olivier Saragaglia, Sébastien Bichard, and Yann Cavezza.
Pending a final decision, first-team… pic.twitter.com/ZjLlLuJ65x
— Boomerang Bet (@Boomerang_SB) February 9, 2026
An absence of “several weeks” jeopardises his involvement for the rest of the season, with only 13 games remaining for Rennes from now until May 16. This gap could delay Jacquet’s Liverpool debut.
If and when he does return, though, it will be for a new manager after Rennes sacked head coach Habib Beye after a run of four consecutive defeats and no win in the last five. Further developments are sure to be monitored by Liverpool’s management team.
Despite the alarming news from France, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot remains convinced that the club made the right call in securing the Frenchman’s signature. Furthermore, Slot views Jacquet as more than just a prospect, seeing him as a vital piece of the defensive puzzle for the coming years.
Speaking on the deal, Slot expressed his satisfaction:
“Very pleasing, of course, because first of all he is a very big talent – and maybe even more than ‘only’ a talent, but we speak about talent because of his age, of course. Second of all because we weren’t the only one interested in him, so another big compliment for the people that are working every single day so hard to sign players, that we were able to sign such a big talent.”
For Slot, Jacquet represents the quintessential Liverpool signing: a high-upside athlete who fits a specific data-driven profile.
“And [it is] another example of the model we are using at this club: so, young, very talented players, sometimes in the start of their career, sometimes already a little bit a few years into their career, but always players that are young and can improve us and help us for the short, but definitely also for the long term. We have signed a lot of them recently and I’ve said many times that the mid- to long-term, but even the short-term, future of this club is in a very, very, very good place.”
If Jacquet requires an operation, his primary goal will shift from finishing the Ligue 1 season to ensuring he is 100% fit for Liverpool’s pre-season tour in July.