There is plenty of uncertainty around Liverpool’s squad planning this summer, with the Reds seemingly sitting on their hands despite seeing some glaring holes develop within the team.
But for all of their failings in foresight, Liverpool deserve praise for their early handling of a Virgil van Dijk succession plan.
Replacing Van Dijk is always going to be incredibly difficult, and if the captain is to leave when his contract expires in June 2027, the Reds are going to feel his absence no matter who they have to fill in.
How high should Liverpool go to sign Bradley Barcola from PSG?
Maybe Liverpool would be better off signing two or three €50m players…
Nevertheless, Liverpool have put themselves in the best position possible with the signings of two of European football’s best young centre-backs: Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet. At 19 and 21 respectively, the pair can go on to spend years in the Reds’ back line if all goes to plan.
For Leoni, things started off in the worst possible way after injury meant he only made one appearance during his debut season at Anfield. But this year looks much more promising, and Jacquet has now confirmed that the pair have already clicked off the pitch, which hopefully bodes very well for their future together.
Jacquet and Leoni have struck up a friendship
Much of what makes or breaks a centre-back pairing is how the two players interact off the pitch. It is no coincidence, for example, that Van Dijk has done brilliant work with Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, all of whom he was close to in his private life.
While Jacquet will hope to add his name to that list over the course of the season, he is also likely to spend plenty of time playing with Leoni before a potential full-time partnership emerges in 2027/28.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s top winger target may just have changed after Real Madrid’s bid for Yan Diomande
And, as the Frenchman told Liverpoolfc.com ahead of the Reds’ first pre-season match of the summer on Saturday, the two youngsters have built an early understanding.
“I’m trying to take the time to get to know everyone,” Jacquet said. “But I spend a lot of time talking with Trey [Nyoni] and Leo [Giovanni Leoni].”
“I often chat to Hugo [Ekitike] too of course. But other than these guys, I chat to everyone. A lot with Jeremie [Frimpong] too, who’s off his head, by the way!”
It is only a small point, but it is pleasing that the two young men have struck on something between them after such little time working together. Leoni is still working his way back to full fitness, so the partnership cannot grow on the pitch just yet, but if an off the pitch understanding is already there, that should follow.
Jacquet can make himself a leader from day one
Saturday will be Liverpool fans’ first chance to see Jacquet in action, and he is likely to start for Andoni Iraola during the clash with Sunderland in Nashville.
Leoni will not play, and it will be intriguing to see whether Iraola chooses to pair Jacquet with Gomez, or instead opts for a youngster like Ifeanyi Nudkwe or Mor Talla Ndiaye.
Either way, the new signing has a real chance to assert himself as a starter for Iraola right from day one.
Some Liverpool fans had been hoping for a second new signing to bulk out the options in defence, but with that looking unlikely to happen, Jacquet has a big chance to cement his position.
Leoni will challenge him for that in time, and it seems likely that the Italian will be back available some time over the next month or so. But after such a serious injury he will need easing in, by which point Jacquet could be a nailed-on starter.
What Liverpool can’t do is then allow Leoni to drift too much. He is just as big a prospect as his new best friend, and it will take two players, not only one, to ensure the transition away from Van Dijk is as smooth as possible. The early signs are good that Liverpool can do that and if Jacquet and Leoni can fulfill their respective potentials, greatness can await.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
