Liverpool Move Early for Jeremy Jacquet
Liverpool’s agreement with Rennes for Jeremy Jacquet feels like a decision shaped as much by patience as by ambition. As reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, the club have secured a summer deal for the 20 year old defender, valued at £55million plus £5m in add ons, with personal terms “not set to be an issue”. It is a move that speaks quietly but confidently about direction.
Liverpool, crucially, believe they are “in a strong position if Jacquet does not move during the January window”. That confidence matters. This is not a reactive purchase driven by panic or short term absence. It is a calculated bet on development, upside, and timing.
Long Term Planning Over Short Term Fixes
Last summer’s failed pursuit of Marc Guehi, when a £35million deal from Crystal Palace collapsed, looms in the background. Guehi’s subsequent move to Manchester City this January underlines how competitive the market has become. Liverpool’s response has been to adjust the lens rather than widen the net.
“Liverpool view Jacquet, 20 as being a more valuable long-term acquisition than Guehi in their model.” That line from Ornstein is revealing. This is about trajectory rather than readiness, about who a player might become rather than who he already is.
Jacquet’s Rise at Rennes
Jacquet’s progress has been steep and convincing. He has “started in each of Rennes’ Ligue 1 matches for which he has been available this season” and “had played every minute before his red card against Paris Saint-Germain on December 6”. That level of trust, at his age, carries weight.
His development path, including an impressive loan at Clermont Foot and sustained performances since breaking into Rennes’ first team in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, explains why he has been tracked so closely. Arsenal’s long standing interest, reported by The Athletic in August, reinforces that sense of shared conviction across elite clubs.
Squad Context and Defensive Needs
Liverpool’s defensive depth has been tested. Injuries to Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni have exposed a thinness behind Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, while Konate’s contract situation adds a layer of uncertainty. Against that backdrop, Jacquet feels less like a luxury and more like foresight.
He joins a cohort signed with tomorrow in mind. Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Alexander Isak represent a generational shift. Jacquet, “considered a big piece in this”, fits neatly into that evolving picture.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this deal feels quietly reassuring. There is no deadline day drama here. Instead, it looks like a club backing its own model and trusting its judgement even when rivals like Chelsea are circling.
Jacquet’s age is key. At 20, he offers flexibility. He can be eased in, developed alongside Van Dijk, and potentially grow into a cornerstone rather than being asked to plug a gap immediately. For fans who have watched Liverpool repeatedly arrive late to certain markets, moving early for a player with this profile feels like progress.
There is also an acceptance that the back line is entering a period of transition. Van Dijk will not anchor the defence forever, and Konate’s contract situation adds uncertainty. Bringing in a France youth international who has already shown durability and composure in Ligue 1 suggests planning rather than hope.
Some supporters may question the fee, £55million plus add ons is significant for a defender still learning his trade. But value is contextual. If Liverpool genuinely believe, as Ornstein reports, that Jacquet is a “more valuable long-term acquisition”, then this is about avoiding future regret rather than present caution.
