Liverpool have secured a major advantage in the summer transfer market by reaching a verbal agreement with Rennes for defender Jacquet, effectively ending Chelsea’s pursuit of the highly-rated France Under-21 international in a deal worth up to £60 million. According to Anfieldindex.com.
Liverpool Beat Chelsea to £60m Jacquet Agreement with Rennes
TalkSPORT reports that Liverpool have agreed a £55 million fee plus £5 million in add-ons for the 20-year-old centre-back. The agreement includes a clause allowing Jacquet to complete the current season with Rennes before his summer move to Anfield, meeting the French club’s demands for continuity.
The deal represents a record sale for Rennes, surpassing the £52 million they received for Jeremy Doku’s transfer to Manchester City in 2023. Liverpool’s willingness to meet the full valuation and commit to early negotiations proved decisive in securing the defender ahead of their Premier League rivals.
Sources close to the negotiations indicate that Liverpool intensified discussions in January to structure a pre-agreement that satisfied all parties. Rennes had been clear throughout the process that they would not sanction a mid-season departure, demanding assurances that Jacquet would remain in Ligue 1 until the summer window.
Personal terms have been agreed in principle, with Jacquet scheduled to undergo a medical ahead of his official summer transfer. The France Under-21 international is viewed as a long-term investment capable of developing into a first-choice centre-back within Liverpool’s tactical system over the coming seasons.
Chelsea had initially been well-positioned to complete a deal during the winter window but ultimately withdrew from negotiations. Club sources suggest that the anticipated return of Mamadou Sarr from his loan spell at Strasbourg, combined with a desire to protect Josh Acheampong’s development pathway, influenced their strategic reassessment of defensive priorities.
