Liverpool needs to strengthen the defense, which is not surprising. Captain Virgil van Dijk has passed the peak period, the future of Ibrahima Konate (who is approaching the time to become a free player) is still uncertain, while constant injuries have significantly narrowed Arne Slot's options this season. However, support is said to be coming - at least in the summer - when The Kop have reached an agreement to sign young French talent Jeremy Jacquet.
The reigning Premier League champions are said to have surpassed Chelsea, Bayern Munich and many other European opponents to win the signature of one of the brightest young center-backs today. According to the plan, Jacquet will continue to wear the Rennes shirt until the end of the 2025-2026 season before joining Anfield in July.
Strengths
Possessing confidence and good control in a play full of collisions, Jacquet possesses enough qualities to reach the level of a top center-back. The French player impresses by playing effectively in both three- and four-defender formations, sometimes even playing as a sweeper.
In the three-center-back system, playing sideways helps Jacquet show off his ability to cover wide space thanks to his impressive ball recovery speed. When positioned as a center-back, he is also not confused, especially thanks to his good aerial combat background.
Jacquet often appears in the right place, at the right time. A clear proof is that he is in the 5% group of center-backs with the best interception stats in Europe this season, averaging 1.69 times per 90 minutes. That achievement comes partly from his ability to choose position when playing deep, but mainly thanks to his initiative to rush into a challenge right when the opponent just received the ball, decisively kicking to steal the ball and regain control.
The point that makes Jacquet stand out compared to many other defensive talents in France lies in his ball handling skills. Watching any match of Rennes, everyone can see him performing powerful transitions, direct passes along the field, even situations of advancing the ball deep into the opponent's half.
Limitation
There are two major concerns surrounding Jacquet. First, of course, is the question of whether he can adapt to a much harsher environment - a league and a club that are always scrutinized in every detail.
Especially, if Jacquet is praised as a long-term "savior" for Liverpool's defense, the pressure will be even heavier. Success in Ligue 1 does not mean he will definitely succeed in the Premier League. And the more he is expected, the easier it is to become a target for scrutiny.
The second concern lies in his natural playing style. Jacquet's determination is mostly still within the allowed limits, and he often handles tense dispute situations smoothly. But once the tempo is off, it can backfire very quickly.
It is not uncommon for him to be " twisted" or make unnecessary mistakes, and this is a type of defensive skill that is difficult to reach absolute stability. Therefore, that could be a ripple following Jacquet in the long term.
At the beginning of this season, Jacquet received his first red card in his career in the match Rennes lost 0-5 at PSG's stadium. After receiving a yellow card, he continued to foul Goncalo Ramos, a player who rushed in to cut a careless pass behind the defense.
That situation can be seen as a moment of lack of concentration. And it is worth mentioning that in his first match back for Rennes afterwards, Jacquet received another yellow card, thereby being suspended.
