Liverpool think they have pulled off a real coup in beating Chelsea to an exciting summer signing at the back.
The summer transfer window looms large over Liverpool, who are going to have their work cut out for them with Mo Salah confirmed to be leaving, and the potential for a couple more high-profile exits.
They have got ahead of the workload, with Jeremy Jacquet already signed by Liverpool amid fierce competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea. That bit of business has created serious excitement at the club, especially given how much interest there was in the 20-year-old.
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Liverpool delighted to have pipped Chelsea to Jeremy Jacquet
Back in January, the race for Jacquet was the story of our window. Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi to Man City, and weren’t going to suffer a similar blow with the young Frenchman.
They met Rennes’ £60 million demand, tying Jacquet down at Anfield from the start of next season.
Dominic King, Liverpool reporter appearing on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast, explained the feeling around Jacquet.
He says: “I think Liverpool need hungry players. I think that this regeneration needs to come. So they bought Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in terms of, you know, he’s a young lad who’s going to develop, who’s hungry to succeed.
“They believe that deal is a coup. They know that there was an awful lot of clubs around Europe looking to get him, particularly Chelsea. But he chose Liverpool because he was sold on how he could develop with Liverpool. I think that’s the type of profile that they will look at.”
The avenue into first-team contention is clear for Jacquet. He and Giovanni Leoni will be vying to impress Arne Slot, and Ibrahima Konate’s potential departure could make a starting role a real possibility for one of the two young centre-backs.
Liverpool shouldn’t stop there with centre-back recruitment
The roster of defenders at Liverpool for next season looks much stronger than the current selection, but there is a lack of experience.
Especially if one of, or both of Konate and Joe Gomez leave, another big signing will be needed.
Is it time for Liverpool to move on from Ibrahima Konate?
Would you be too disappointed to see him leave this summer?
These young talents are the future, but asking them to assume such a prominent role this early feels like setting them up for failure. Whether it’s Micky van de Ven, Nico Schlotterbeck, Alessandro Bastoni or someone else, it’s an area that should be a primary focus when the market reopens.
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