Liverpool agree £60m deal to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in major blow to Chelsea – as Reds hijack rivals with defender set to join in the summer

Liverpool have agreed a £60million package for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet.

The deal is £55m with a further £5m in add-ons for the 20-year-old.

Chelsea have been pushing to sign the France U21 international and were considered favourites but Liverpool are closing on agreement with the player.

A deal is still to be finalised but is tipped in Liverpool’s favour.

Jacquet recognises he could have a greater chance of playing first team football with the Premier League champions but will stay with Rennes for the rest of the season.

The deal was the preference of Rennes who did not wish to lose the young defender in this window, allowing them to replace him at the end of the season.

 
+2
View gallery

Jeremy Jacquet is set to join Liverpool after the Reds agreed a £60million deal with Rennes

 
+2
View gallery

Chelsea had been leading the race for the 20-year-old’s signature before Liverpool’s proposal

Chelsea were told by Rennes and Jacquet’s camp that the fee and personal terms were not an issue as deadline day neared.

However, in the last 48 hours, it was communicated to the Blues that Jacquet was prioritising a move to Liverpool.

The reasoning given to Chelsea is understood to be that he was concerned by Mamadou Sarr returning from Strasbourg and their refusal to entertain offers for academy graduate Josh Acheampong – whereas there will be less competition at Liverpool upon his arrival.

Jeremy Jacquet has decided to join Liverpool over Chelsea despite the two Premier League clubs offering exactly the same deal. The Reds have agreed a £55million initial fee for the Rennes defender with the package also containing £5m in add-ons. The Frenchman will undergo a medical on deadline day today before linking up with his new club in the summer once the current season is over.

And while Chelsea have long been linked to Jacquet, and were previously said to be his preferred destination, Anfield will be his new home. The France under-21 international believes Liverpool will be a better club for the future of his career. Personal terms are already in place.

According to Sky Sports, while the two clubs offered the same deal, the fact Chelsea have multiple other young centre-backs put Jacquet off. The Blues have recalled Mamadou Sarr from his loan with Strasbourg while Josh Acheampong will not be leaving Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea also have both Levi Colwill and Aaron Anselmino under the age of 22 as the Londoners stockpile some of the best young defenders in Europe.

With Ibrahima Konate’s contract expiring at Liverpool and Joe Gomez reaching the end of his time on Merseyside, Jacquet could be an immediate starter under Arne Slot. The Bondy-born 20-year-old has previously named Konate and Virgil van Dijk as two of his idols, so will be hoping his countryman signs a new deal with the Premier League champions.

BBC Sport say Chelsea will not match Liverpool’s bid and will allow the Rennes academy graduate to head to Merseyside. It comes just weeks after the Reds saw England international Marc Guehi join rivals Manchester City.

Guehi was close to joining Slot’s side in the summer but a deal collapsed on deadline day. The centre-back joined City earlier this month and explained why his switch from Crystal Palace to Anfield fell apart.

Jeremy Jacquet will not become a Liverpool player until the summer (Image: Getty)

Asked how near he came to joining Liverpool, £20m man Guehi said: “Very close. The medical was pretty much done and then it got pulled at the last minute. So, quite close!

“But I was still OK. My mindset’s always, ‘Move on to the next one’. And also that what will be, will be. God’s got a plan for me. Just move on to the next one and focus on what I could do for Palace.”

On joining City, he added: “I’m just glad that I got this move over the line. I’m now really confident that this is the place for me to improve and to grow as a player.

“I felt from conversations — through talking with some players here — that this was the place for me to improve and just to help as much as possible. I’m just glad that it’s over now. I’m glad I have joined this fantastic football club. And everyone’s given me a lovely welcome.”