Chelsea “in the race” to sign £61m Ligue 1 talent

Chelsea are comfortably adjusting to a new chapter at Stamford Bridge under Liam Rosenior, with another Premier League victory secured over the weekend.

The Blues saw off Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park with a confident 3-1 win, extending their unbeaten run to three matches in all competitions, having also collected another three points in the Champions League phase with a victory over Pafos last week.

The former Strasbourg manager is still in the early stages of his tenure in west London, but he is already making a strong impression, guiding his squad into contention for Champions League qualification at the end of the season.

In terms of the January transfer window, Chelsea have been quieter than usual, with only three loan players returning to the club this month, including Caleb Wiley and, most recently, Aaron Anselmino from Borussia Dortmund.

Despite a positive run of results, the squad is still crying out for much-needed reinforcements in both midfield and defence.

However, with just one week remaining to complete deals, it remains unclear whether Chelsea will welcome any new additions before the window closes.

There are promising signs that the summer transfer window will bring further investment, which may offer greater clarity on Chelsea’s long-term ambitions both domestically and on the European stage.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are among the clubs interested in signing Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed:

“Rennes want to keep Jacquet in the January window.

“Rennes believe that Jacquet can only leave for crazy money. They want a club-record fee, around €65m or €70m (£61m). Chelsea only wanted to spend around €40m to €50m, so there is no agreement on the fee.

“But Rennes also insist on keeping the player now and potentially selling him in the summer. This could be the possibility.

“So now there is a chance for Jacquet to leave the club in the summer, but with the deal agreed now.

“Clubs interested? Chelsea are there, for sure, to sign him now before arriving in the summer.

“Liverpool are also interested and following the player. Bayern Munich are also calling for the player.

“So these three clubs are involved in the race for Jacquet to agree a deal now and have him arrive in the summer.”

There will be strong competition to sign the Ligue 1 defender this summer, meaning Chelsea will need to act decisively if they intend to push a deal over the line.

It will come as no surprise to supporters that the club continues to prioritise youth over experience in their recruitment strategy, and Jacquet fits that profile perfectly.

Standing at six foot two, the highly-rated prospect has made just 54 senior appearances in France, but has already done enough to attract interest from Europe’s elite.

The 20-year-old Frenchman is strong in aerial duels and interceptions, using his physical presence to dominate opponents, while also offering versatility through his ability to operate across the back line.

Competing with Liverpool and Bayern Munich will be no easy task, but with their Premier League rivals enduring an inconsistent campaign, Chelsea could hold the advantage if they secure Champions League qualification.

With that in mind, a move for Jacquet is one for Chelsea supporters to monitor closely over the coming months, as he could represent an exciting long-term option in the club’s plans to build a new centre-back partnership this summer.

Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism.

Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting.

Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.

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