'Suckers' - Liverpool slammed for Jeremy Jacquet transfer after $82M deal

Liverpool has agreed to a £60 million ($82 million) deal to sign defender Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes this summer, but World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry has criticized the transfer fee and warned the 20-year-old will face pressure

Jeremy Jacquet is heading to Anfield(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool have been branded "suckers" for agreeing to a £60 million ($82 million) deal to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes.

And the future Reds center-back has been warned he will face increased pressure to perform due to his "ridiculous" transfer fee. Jacquet will relocate to Merseyside this summer after Liverpool saw off competition from Chelsea.

The defender, who will officially arrive on July 1, has made just 36 appearances in Ligue 1 and only earned his first cap for France's U21 side last March. France World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry believes Liverpool has paid vastly over the odds for Jacquet, who will now have an unfair amount of expectation on his shoulders as a consequence.

"This isn't meant to offend the player; honestly, he's not to blame at all, and we wish him all the best because he's a good player," said Duggary.

"When you have suckers like that... well done to Rennes. Rennes managed to find a sucker like Liverpool."

Dugarry added: "And even for poor little Jacquet, this transfer is going to put a lot of pressure on him.

Arne Slot has been dubbed a "sucker"(Image: Kate McShane/Getty Images)

"Even him, the poor kid, who is certainly a very good player, is going to arrive with a pall of pressure.

"His performances will be viewed differently, even though he doesn't deserve it.

"Those of us who know football, let's not try to justify this amount by saying it's because Liverpool has money or whatever. It's meaningless!

"I don't know what's going on. It's ridiculous! No, it's not supply and demand. It's ridiculous! It's ridiculous!"

Liverpool pursued young Lille center-back Leny Yoro during the summer of 2024, though he ultimately chose Manchester United.

Speaking on podcast Rothen s'enflamme from French outlet RMC Sport, Dugarry continued: "Let them continue, all these English clubs, sending tens of millions of euros.

"This isn't just a two-tiered football situation anymore. It's a football that's lost its mind.

"Let's stop trying to pretend there's a justification for it. There's no justification whatsoever."