Chelsea eyeing move for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet | OneFootball

Chelsea are interested in 20-year-old centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, according to Les Parisiens.

The Blues are ‘at the top of the list’ of suitors and ‘have repeatedly mobilised their scouts to watch him.’

Rennes are also aware of the intense Chelsea interest in recent weeks, but do not want to sell him this winter. Next summer could be a different ballgame, though.

Jacquet is a terrific defensive prospect who would bolster the Chelsea ranks, forming an excellent partnership with Levi Colwill or Trevoh Chalobah.

The France Under-21 international has been a colossus at the back, helping his side keep four clean sheets in 15 Ligue 1 appearances.

He has won 73% of his aerial and 62% of his ground duels in the league.

The Chelsea target ranks highly for interceptions due to his excellent reading of the game, which has attracted several top clubs.

Interest in his services will be high, but Chelsea will back themselves to get a deal for the talented ace over the line.

With Chelsea eyeing Jacquet, plus Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino returning next summer, the Blues must let go of Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile.

Both defenders have been poor for a long time, and the West Londoners must upgrade them.

Adarabioyo’s errors and nonchalant defending have left the FIFA Club World Cup champions exposed on numerous occasions this season. He is not up to par.

Meanwhile, injuries have hampered Badiashile’s development. His levels are no longer where they used to be in his early days. The best time to sell the pair is now.

However, Chelsea’s fixation on another raw centre-back remains baffling. This squad does not lack potential. It lacks authority.

What it needs is an experienced, commanding defender who can organise, lead, and stabilise a rearguard still prone to chaos. Marc Guehi fits that brief perfectly.

He is Premier League-proven, available on the market, and crucially, he knows Chelsea inside out.

Instead of gambling on another long-term project, the Blues could secure a defender in his prime who raises the level immediately.

Sometimes the smart move is not chasing promise, but buying certainty. One day, this Chelsea transfer team will learn that lesson.