Liverpool agree huge €72m deal for Ligue 1 star | OneFootball

Liverpool move decisively for Jérémy Jacquet

Credit for the original reporting goes to Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport, whose information has lit up the closing stretch of the winter window.

Liverpool do not often arrive late to a chase and still expect to win it. Yet that is precisely the picture painted here. According to the report, the club have surged past Chelsea to secure Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet, with a deal “worth €72 million, including bonuses”, subject to final approval from the player.

It reads like a modern transfer story, compressed timelines, inflated stakes, and a decisive final move from a club convinced of its direction.

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Late surge beats Chelsea interest

Chelsea’s pursuit had appeared methodical and persistent. The article notes that the Blues “had been working on it for several weeks”, gradually increasing their offers to meet Rennes’ demands. They were even willing to accept a compromise that suited the selling club, agreeing to let Jacquet remain in Ligue 1 for the remainder of the season.

Liverpool’s intervention, however, altered the dynamic. As Hawkins reports, “Liverpool entered the fray with a vengeance and are on the verge of securing the deal.” It is a familiar pattern in elite recruitment, patience from one side, conviction from another, and the balance tilting sharply.

For Chelsea, attention has already drifted elsewhere, with “another option, bringing back Mamadou Sarr, currently on loan at Strasbourg”, tied to the plans of new manager Liam Rosenior.

Loan spell offers measured transition

The structure of the move matters as much as the fee. Jacquet will not arrive at Anfield immediately. Instead, “he will be loaned to Stade Rennais for the end of the season, as Habib Beye and the Breton club wished.” That clause reflects a level of pragmatism often missing from high value transfers involving young defenders.

For Liverpool, it buys time and context. For Jacquet, it offers continuity. Development is rarely linear, and the Premier League can be unforgiving to players still learning their craft.

Statement of intent in the market

A €72 million outlay for a 20 year old defender is not cautious spending. It suggests belief in profile and potential rather than polish. Liverpool have, historically, preferred certainty. This move hints at a recalibration, a willingness to invest earlier in a player’s curve rather than later.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this report lands with a mix of excitement and intrigue. The fee alone makes it impossible to ignore. €72 million for a defender who has yet to play a Premier League minute is a bold declaration, particularly from a club that has often preached sustainability and value.

There is, though, a logic beneath the headline. Liverpool’s defensive evolution has been ongoing for several seasons. Profiles matter more than reputations. Age, athleticism, and adaptability have become key currencies. Jacquet fits that mould, even if his name does not yet carry widespread recognition.

The loan back to Rennes feels like a quiet reassurance. It suggests Liverpool are not expecting instant returns, nor forcing a pathway that could stunt development. Fans have seen too many young defenders arrive with pressure piled high and context stripped away. This approach feels calmer, smarter.

There will inevitably be scepticism. Supporters will ask why such sums are committed now, and whether this limits flexibility elsewhere. That is fair. Yet it also hints at confidence in long term planning, and perhaps an acceptance that elite potential now commands elite prices.

If nothing else, it shows Liverpool are still capable of moving decisively, even late, even under pressure. For a fanbase that values clarity of purpose, that alone carries weight.