Deal for 20-year-old was mandated by necessity but Liverpool also believe he will form a core of the club’s future
Liverpool have stolen a move on Chelsea and agreed a deal with Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet.
The 20-year-old will move to Anfield for a package worth £60m. It is understood Liverpool first tried to sign Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida, who can play across the backline and in defensive midfield, but they could not agree a deal.
Jacquet’s move to Merseyside will be bring a much-needed boost to an injury-ridden squad. In their backline Liverpool are without Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni, who are all injured.
Centre-back Ibrahima Konate was forced to return to the lineup at the weekend ahead of schedule after the demise of his father, as there was a shortage of players to play in defence.
A move for a centre-back has been overdue for the club. It was a problem position even in the summer when they spent £450m on new additions. A move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi broke down on deadline day, and the England defender has since joined rivals Manchester City.
Parma’s Leoni was brought in for a reported £26m, but his season-ending ACL injury – suffered on his debut in the 2-1 win against Southampton in the Carabao Cup – meant the club would be without him for a year.
The Reds are on an upward trajectory after following up a 6-0 demolition of Qarabag in the Champions League with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle, the win over the Magpies ending a five-game winless run in the league.
Both Arne Slot and the hierarchy understand that signing a defender in the winter window is vital if they are to stand any chance of finishing in the top five and securing Champions League football for next season. Liverpool are currently sixth in the table, with Manchester United and Chelsea fourth and fifth respectively.
Winning the Champions League is another route to Europe’s elite competition, but signing an additional defender ahead of the knockout stages will only have boosted their chances.
The 20-year-old Jacquet is also highly rated by Liverpool’s recruitment department and they believe he will form a core of the club’s future alongside the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Alexander Isak – and to an extent Leoni himself when he returns to the pitch.
