Liverpool - Anfield Stadium
Liverpool - Anfield Stadium
Liverpool Injury News: Liverpool handed a major pre-season boost as £60m defender returns to training
Liverpool Injury News: Andoni Iraola just got the exact tonic he needed. Jeremy Jacquet, Liverpool’s marquee £60m summer arrival from Rennes, is finally back on the grass at the AXA Training Centre. It is a massive bit of news for the Reds. Timing is everything in football, and with the full first-team squad due back for pre-season training next week, the Frenchman’s recovery has fallen perfectly into place. (Via The Evening Standard)
Initially, the 20-year-old was eased back via light sessions alongside the under-21 group. Iraola and sporting director Richard Hughes didn’t miss the opportunity to check on his progress, watching him closely from the sidelines on Thursday. The manager making the trip down to the academy pitches tells you everything about how highly rated this kid is on Merseyside. After months of anxiety behind the scenes regarding his fitness, things are looking up.
Anfield chiefs actually wrapped up the paperwork for Jacquet back in January, executing a clever pre-contract agreement to beat Chelsea to his signature. The financial package is a hefty one: a fixed £55m up front, with another £5m tucked away in performance-related add-ons. West London offered the exact same cash. Jacquet simply preferred the project in L4.
The shoulder issue and Harvey Elliott’s precarious position
Staying at Rennes for the back end of last season was always the plan, but a nasty shoulder injury in February ruined his farewell tour. Before the medical staff stepped in, he managed 19 appearances and helped secure five clean sheets. He missed their final home game completely, a 2-1 win over Paris FC, before going under the knife. The rehab was tough, but he is past it now. Standing at 191cm, the centre-back is an absolute unit. Given he penned a five-year deal with a club option for an extra year, he isn’t here to just warm the bench.
Harvey Elliott was also knocking around the training ground on Thursday. His vibe is entirely different.
Elliott’s season-long loan to Aston Villa last September was supposed to trigger a £35m permanent move. It didn’t happen. The appearance clauses were never triggered because Unai Emery barely used him. Nine games in total. His last competitive minutes came all the way back on February 1st, a fleeting 13-minute cameo against Brentford. Emery even went public, calling the loan spell “damaging” for the midfielder’s development. Brutal honesty.
Read: Liverpool keen on summer transfer deal for £51.4m Chelsea star
Now 23, Elliott is entering the final year of his Liverpool contract. He has no idea where he stands with Iraola. Pre-season isn’t just about fitness for him; it’s a straight-up fight for his career. Sure, he picked up a Europa League winner’s medal in May after sitting on the bench during Villa’s final, but that won’t carry any weight when the manager sits down to trim his squad this summer.
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