“A real coup” – Liverpool praised for beating Chelsea in the race for defender | OneFootball

Jeremy Jacquet to Liverpool looks like a real coup for Andoni Iraola

Liverpool have committed serious money to Jeremy Jacquet, and the immediate reaction from parts of the game is clear, this is a signing with substance. Tthe Reds moved decisively to win the race for the 21-year-old Rennes defender, agreeing a £60m deal at the end of the winter window before completing the move at the start of July.

That is a hefty outlay for a player with only 57 senior appearances behind him. Fine. Young elite centre-backs cost a fortune, particularly when they are French, highly rated and already on the radar of other Premier League clubs. If Liverpool had waited another year, the number likely rises, and the queue gets longer.

The broad point matters more than the sticker price. Liverpool needed to refresh their central defensive line, and under new head coach Andoni Iraola they have chosen a profile with upside rather than a safe, older stop-gap. Jacquet arrives to replace Ibrahima Konate, and the club retain four senior centre-backs, which keeps the structure sensible.

Jeremy Jacquet profile suits Liverpool plans

Kevin Hatchard’s assessment, via Empire of the Kop, was direct and persuasive. “I think this is a real coup because he’s been seen as the next big thing in terms of French centre-backs for quite a while. He was linked with Arsenal, [and] Chelsea were very keen to sign him as well. Liverpool have managed to elbow their way to the front of the queue and bring him in.

“There’s going to have to be an element of patience because he’s still very young, he’s still very raw, but all of the raw material is there. He’s good in the air, he’s really confident in possession, he’s a good tackler. I think with more games, Andoni Iraola will work very closely with him as well.

Photo: IMAGO

“I think in the long-term, he and Giovanni Leoni are probably going to be the centre-back pairing for Liverpool after [Virgil] van Dijk has gone, obviously. That’s for the future, but I think he’ll learn so much from working with Van Dijk. I think this is a really positive signing.”

That tracks. Jacquet’s appeal is obvious. He has physical presence, comfort on the ball and the kind of defensive confidence top clubs now demand. Liverpool are not buying a finished article, they are buying a player they believe can become one of the best in the league at his position.

£60m Jeremy Jacquet fee reflects the market

There is always noise when the fee starts at £55m and climbs to £60m. Yet this is the market for premium potential. Clubs do not spend that sort of money on sentiment. They do it because the ceiling is high enough to justify the risk.

Reports referenced in the original piece pointed to Liverpool scouts admiring Jacquet’s composure and leadership, qualities that usually take time to develop in defenders. If those traits are already visible at 21, then the logic behind the move is easy to understand.

More importantly, he arrives in the right environment. Virgil van Dijk remains the standard reference point for any young centre-back at Anfield. Playing with him, training with him and being held to his level should accelerate Jacquet’s education faster than any loan or slower build elsewhere.

Andoni Iraola can develop Liverpool defender properly

Iraola now has an important task. He must balance development with performance. Jacquet will make mistakes, because all young defenders do. The question is whether Liverpool can absorb those moments while benefiting from his aggression, recovery work and composure in possession.

On balance, this looks like a smart piece of planning. Liverpool have paid for tomorrow without ignoring today. If Jacquet settles quickly, the fee will stop looking large very fast. In a market where elite defenders are scarce and expensive, that is usually how these deals age.

And if this goes the way Liverpool hope, they have not merely signed a promising centre-back. They may have signed the next long-term leader of the back line.

Our View

There is no need for wild hype, but there is every reason to be encouraged. When informed observers are saying Jeremy Jacquet was wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea, and Liverpool still got the deal done, that tells you plenty about how the club are being viewed in the market.

What stands out most is the profile. He is young, clearly talented and already seems to have the tools needed for Premier League football. Supporters can accept that there will be rough edges. In fact, that is part of the excitement. Watching a defender grow alongside Virgil van Dijk could be one of the most interesting storylines of the season.

The fee is big, but top-level potential always costs. Liverpool are shopping for starters and future leaders, not squad fillers. If Jacquet has the composure, leadership and presence this report suggests, then £60m could end up looking like sound business in a couple of years.

There is also something reassuring about hearing that Iraola is expected to work closely with him. That suggests a plan, not a punt. Liverpool fans will back a young defender if they can see honesty in his game, commitment in his defending and improvement over time. Jacquet sounds like a player who can offer all three.