Liverpool to battle Chelsea for €60m rated French defender

Liverpool have joined the race for Rennes center back Jeremy Jacquet. Chelsea are understood to have already agreed personal terms with the 20-year-old defender earlier this month, as they plan a summer swoop for the player in what could cost around €60m.

Liverpool are now accelerating their plans to court the player after missing out long time target Marc Guehi to Manchester City. Rennes remain adamant Jacquet won’t leave the club in January but are reportedly open to a record sale for the player over the summer.

TalkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs has reported that Liverpool are keen on signing the player in the summer, and will be hoping to pip the Blues to the France U21 international. Jacquet has emerged as one Europe’s hottest prospects for his physical traits and maturity.

The commanding 6’2 defender excels at aerial duels and ranks in the top five percentage of center backs in Europe for interceptions and tackles won.

Liverpool find themselves on the market for defenders amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Ibrahima Konate. Konate’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and so far no progress on an extension has been made.

Skipper Virgil Van Djik will be 35 heading into next season so the Reds desire long term cover in that position. The Reds signed young Italian defender Giovanni Leoni over the summer, but the player suffered a torn ACL that cruelly ended his debut in a Carabao Cup win over Southampton at Anfield in September.

Joe Gomez remains the only senior cover in central defence. Liverpool chased former Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi for the better part of two seasons, and had a deal agreed for the player on deadline day over the summer.

The deal collapsed in the dying moments leaving Liverpool short in defensive cover. Liverpool are also known admirers of Bayer Munich’s Dayot Upamecano who is a soon to be free agent alongside Konate. Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck is another known target of Arne Slot’s men.

Nadji is a football writer with over 10 years of experience covering the Premier League. His work has been featured on Football Fancast, Arsenal-Mania, and Arsenal.com, where he has built a reputation for delivering sharp analysis, engaging storytelling, and in-depth coverage of the game.

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