Liverpool: Arne Slot issues verdict on Jeremy Jacquet signing after hijacking Chelsea transfer talks | OneFootball

Blues gazumped late in January window as defender opts for Anfield move

Liverpool boss Arne Slot believes Liverpool’s future is in a “very good place” after successfully hijacking Chelsea’s bid to sign Jeremy Jacquet to wrap a £60million deal for the young defender.

As a result, Liverpool swooped in to complete a successful hijack in the final days of the window, and snap up one of the brightest young defenders in Europe.

Jacquet was the headline signing of a productive transfer window for the Reds, with Burnley’s Noah Adekoya and Austria Vienna’s Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye also added.

On Jacquet, Slot said: “[It’s] very pleasing because he is a very big talent and maybe even more than a talent but we speak cause of his age. We weren't the only ones interested in him so a big compliment to those who are signing the players.”

Rennes record sale joins Liverpool in July

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He added: “[He is] another example of the model we use at this club: young, talented at the start of their careers, and can improve and help us for short and definitely long term. We have signed a lot of those recently and the mid to long-term future is in as very good place."

Jacquet will not be making an impact for the Reds in the immediate future, as his deal sees him not join the club until July 1, but in the meantime Liverpool have also signed defenders Ndukwe, Adekoya and Ndiaye.

The signing of four centre-backs drew questions about what that means for the current Liverpool crop.

There remains amid ongoing uncertainty over the futures of Ibrahima Konate, as he enters the final five months of his contract with little sign of an extension, and aging captain Virgil van Dijk.

Slot explained: “We never panic, it's always long-term and thought about for a long time and not by just one person.

We know Virgil van Dijk won't play for 10 years, but he has a year left, maybe longer

Arne Slot

“We know Virgil van Dijk won't play for 10 years, but he has a year left, maybe longer at us, he stays fit and what a compliment that is to him, he can play every 3 days. Hopefully, he can stay fit for multiple years, but this club is not stupid.

The same plan applies to Curtis Jones, who was linked with a move to Inter Milan during the final week of the window only to stay despite not being a regular starter for his boyhood club.

Slot said: “I think what you've seen, he has played a lot of minutes and unlucky in the sense that midfield is the only line we haven't had injuries, but we kept him because we have players, but we need players in these positions.

“And the moment you start to need midfielders in different positions, the line gets smaller and smaller. We kept him, and his situation hasn't changed for us. He is one of 16 outfield players available we have with two young players in Nyoni and Ngumoha, so it would be strange if we let anyone go."