-
Beth Lindop
Multiple Authors
Liverpool has officially announced the acquisition of defender Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes, with the player set to join the team this summer.
According to sources, the transfer fee amounts to £55 million ($74 million), plus an additional £5 million in potential add-ons, as the 20-year-old is considered vital for Liverpool’s defensive overhaul.
Jacquet has inked a contract with the club that runs until 2031, which includes an option for an extra year.
While Chelsea had initially agreed on a transfer fee for Jacquet, they faced complications related to personal terms, especially after deciding to recall centre-back Mamadou Sarr from his loan at Strasbourg and declining offers for Josh Acheampong, as per ESPN sources.
The 20-year-old has secured a five-year contract starting from July 1, with the possibility for an additional year.
Despite Chelsea’s initial interest, personal terms became problematic when they opted to bring Sarr back and refused to let Acheampong go.
Liverpool’s interest in Jacquet has been longstanding, and discussions intensified over the weekend as it became clear that the player was eager to make a move to Anfield.
The acquisition of Jacquet aligns with Liverpool’s strategy of targeting elite young talent, with the average age of their signings over the previous two transfer windows being under 22.
As Liverpool aims to strengthen their defense, uncertainties linger around the futures of Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson, both of whom are set to be out of contract this summer. Last summer, the Premier League champions attempted to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace for £35m ($47.8m), but the deal fell through on deadline day.
– Transfer deadline day: 10 of the best Premier League signings in January
– Mohamed Salah breaks records in Liverpool victory, surpasses Rooney and Henry
– Premier League January transfers: Full list of confirmed moves for every club
Guéhi, now an England international, recently joined rivals Manchester City earlier this month.
Chelsea also showed interest in the centre-back, but sources indicate that he prefers a transfer to Anfield, and personal terms are not expected to pose any issues.