Will Jeremy Jacquet join Liverpool in January? Chelsea transfer battle underway

The Reds are in desperate need of a defensive transfer addition, but fans hoping for excitement in the final days of the winter market could be left disappointed

Jeremy Jacquet has been linked with a move to Livrpool and Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool’s January transfer window is expected to end on a quiet note despite the Reds’ dearth of defensive options.

Such is the depth of Liverpool’s issues at the back, Arne Slot was forced to select Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back on Saturday against Newcastle, with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong unavailable, while Joe Gomez was also absent.

Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury in September, coupled with missing out on Marc Guehi’s signing last summer, has meant center-back has been a problem position throughout the season. The Reds, of course, opted against pursuing a deal for Guehi earlier this month, with the England international ending up at Manchester City.

While that decision did not sit well with many supporters, the club’s decision-makers felt he did not represent value for money.

The Reds could not justify Guehi’s high wage demands, while paying a fee of up to £30 million ($40M) for a player who had a few months remaining on his contract is at odds with the club’s recruitment process.

Indeed, the Reds’ typical approach is to sign young center-backs with years of development ahead of them. Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, between them, have nearly 24 years’ service, while it’s hoped that, in signing Leoni, the club has acquired one of the best young center-backs on the planet.

If the Reds are to make any major additions in that role before the window shuts, it will be for a player of a similar profile.

Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet has impressed in France(Image: Getty Images)

Jeremy Jacquet very much fits into that bracket, with the 20-year-old playing 18 games this season for Rennes, and already being spoken about as a long shot for a World Cup place in the France squad.

He is certainly a player Liverpool likes. Whether the club makes a move before Monday’s deadline is a different question.

But if the Reds feel Jacquet offers good value for money, they will not be afraid to lodge a bid. That has been proven before in the January window, when Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz were purchased.

That is particularly pertinent with Chelsea sniffing around Jacquet. According to Fabrizio Romano, the youngster will not be moving anywhere until this summer, which is certainly a boost for Liverpool.

That would be in keeping with Liverpool’s general stance on the window. While additions cannot be ruled out, there is no sense that transfer additions are essential, even after the injuries sustained to Bradley and Frimpong.

A deal ahead of the 2025/26 season would suit Anfield executives, especially amid the ongoing uncertainty around the position heading into the summer. Konate and Gomez could still leave at the end of the season. Leoni’s return for August is not guaranteed, while Van Dijk will be in the final year of his contract.

It feels increasingly inevitable that additions will be needed in that role. Jacquet very much fits the mold. But any movement in the final days of the January market feels unlikely.