Stade Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet in action with Paris St Germain's Bradley Barcola
Liverpool’s January signing Jeremy Jacquet could be sidelined for four to six months after undergoing shoulder surgery, according to L’Equipe.
The French defender is now in doubt for his first pre-season with the Anfield side, who paid £60m to secure his signature in the winter transfer window.
Jacquet is set to undergo surgery this week, which will likely end his season early, despite Liverpool’s initial hope that the procedure could be avoided.
The 20-year-old suffered a shoulder injury during Rennes’ 3-1 loss to Lens on February 7 and has not played since.
Jeremy Jacquet Could Miss Liverpool Pre-Season
Stade Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet in action with Paris St Germain's Bradley Barcola
According to L’Equipe, while Rennes have not given up hope of seeing Jacquet play again this season, in a worst-case scenario the defender could miss Liverpool’s preparations for the following campaign.
An unnamed former Ligue 1 doctor explained that such shoulder surgeries typically require around four months to heal with a rapid rehabilitation plan, or up to six months for those with a slower recovery.
Jacquet will officially join Liverpool on July 1, penning a contract until 2031 with the option of a further year, after the Reds agreed a deal worth £55m plus £5m in add-ons with Rennes in January.
Liverpool beat competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea for the 20-year-old, who is part of the Reds' succession planning for their 34-year-old captain Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool to Sign Another Defender?
Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate hugs Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool’s move for Jacquet also makes sense given the uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate.
As things stand, the Frenchman appears set to leave when his contract expires in June, with both parties failing to reach a breakthrough in negotiations over a new deal.
Konate’s departure could push Liverpool into the market for a new defender, as the Reds seem unlikely to enter the season with a centre-back quartet of Van Dijk, Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez.
Leoni suffered a season-ending ACL injury in September and has only featured once since his summer arrival from Serie A side Parma.
Why Liverpool Went After Jacquet
Arne Slot
Despite his early injury setback, Liverpool fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about Jacquet’s arrival. We asked ChatGPT what qualities make the 20-year-old stand out in today’s game:
Physical and defensive presence – Big, athletic and strong in duels and aerial battles, Jacquet wins a high percentage of challenges and uses his size and pace to shut down attackers early, making him an aggressive, front‑foot stopper.
Ball‑playing ability – Unlike many young centre‑backs, he’s comfortable carrying the ball forward and progressing play, capable of breaking lines with forward passes and confident in build‑up under pressure – a key trait for modern defenders.
Rapid development and adaptability – He became a first‑team regular quickly after loan experience, showing tactical maturity, positional awareness, and composure beyond his years – qualities that have attracted interest from Liverpool.
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