Jeremy Jacquet World Cup prospects as Liverpool plan ahead

Liverpool’s summer rarely follows a neat script and 2026 will be no different. A World Cup planted squarely in the middle of pre season has a habit of turning even the most meticulous planning into educated guesswork. For Arne Slot, fresh from delivering the Premier League title in his first season at Anfield, the challenge is familiar but no less awkward. Key players depart, return dates blur and training sessions become exercises in compromise rather than cohesion.

Against that backdrop, the decision to secure Jeremy Jacquet early starts to make plenty of sense. While much of the squad will be scattered across continents, at least one new face will be walking through the door on time, ready to learn his surroundings and, crucially, Slot’s methods.

Pre season shaped by World Cup demands

World Cups are brilliant spectacles, but they are logistical nightmares for elite clubs. Players drift back in small groups, fitness levels vary and tactical work is often postponed until the last possible moment. For managers trying to integrate new signings, the margin for error is slim.

Liverpool know this better than most. Their status guarantees heavy international representation and this summer will be no exception. That reality explains why groundwork has been laid early, with Jacquet’s arrival planned well before the tournament begins. It offers a rare slice of continuity in an otherwise fractured summer.

Jeremy Jacquet development pathway

Jacquet arrives with momentum. His performances in Ligue 1 for Rennes have been steadily improving and his profile is rising in France. He is still uncapped at senior level, but the sense is that he is moving in the right direction at the right time.

For a young centre back, early exposure to a new environment matters. Training ground repetition, understanding defensive triggers and building relationships with team mates all take time. Liverpool appear keen to give Jacquet that head start, rather than dropping him into the deep end after weeks of international chaos.

France selection debate explained

The question hanging over Jacquet is whether his progress accelerates into international recognition this summer. French football, after all, does not suffer from a lack of defensive talent. Julien Laurens addressed the issue candidly when discussing the pecking order ahead of the World Cup.

“He’s on the verge of the French national A team with Deschamps, maybe not for the World Cup, there’s too much competition,” Laurens told BBC’s Euro Leagues podcast.

That assessment feels fair. France tend to favour experience at major tournaments, particularly in central defence. A debut may come later rather than sooner, which from a Liverpool perspective is hardly bad news.

Liverpool benefit from early clarity

There is a wider angle here. Laurens also pointed to the inevitability of Jacquet’s rise and Liverpool’s timing.

“But after that, slowly, surely Zidane will have a look. And from a Liverpool point of view, if you don’t get him now, I think he would have gone to a massive club next anyway.”

That sense of acting before the market shifts is telling. Liverpool are not waiting for consensus to form, they are moving early and decisively. If Jacquet avoids World Cup duty, Slot gains a valuable training ground presence. If he does not, the club have still positioned themselves ahead of the curve.

In a summer defined by uncertainty, that feels like smart business rather than a gamble.