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<\/p>\nLiverpool have won the race for Rennes star Jeremy Jacquet, beating Chelsea to the young defender, but their \u00a360million deadline day transfer hasn’t solved their problem<\/p>\n
Arne Slot has signed a defender – but hasn’t seen his issue resolved(Image: AFP\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Liverpool have successfully hijacked Chelsea\u2019s move for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, but their deadline day deal has not solved Arne Slot<\/a>\u2019s biggest problem. It emerged on Sunday evening<\/a> that the Reds<\/a> had agreed a \u00a360million deal for Jacquet, yet he won\u2019t arrive until the summer.<\/p>\n Jacquet is a highly-rated 20-year-old centre-back who has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League<\/a> for some time. Chelsea have held talks with Rennes<\/a> and Jacquet\u2019s representatives during the January transfer window<\/a>, but will not match Liverpool<\/a>\u2019s offer of \u00a355m plus \u00a35m in add-ons.<\/p>\n He will sign a five-year contract until the summer of 2031 with the option of a further year in a clear blow to Liam Rosenior\u2019s plans. Chelsea<\/a> also have defensive injuries and there is anger that they have missed out on a major transfer target to a Premier League rival.<\/p>\n The deal is therefore being considered as a coup for Liverpool, who have reacted after missing out on Marc Guehi to Manchester City<\/a>. Slot\u2019s side had agreed a \u00a335m deal for Guehi on deadline day in September only for Crystal Palace to pull the plug<\/a> and the England defender to end up at City in January instead.<\/p>\n FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: Transfer deadline day LIVE: Arsenal linked with shock Tonali move, Liverpool hijack Chelsea’s \u00a361m deal, Man Utd latest<\/a>READ MORE: What time does the transfer window close today? Deadline day rules explained<\/a><\/p>\n They moved on to other targets and landed on Jacquet after it became clear that Lutsharel Geertruida would not be available<\/a>. Geertruida is on loan with Sunderland<\/a> from RB Leipzig and the complications involved in securing a fresh loan deal \u2013 which would have required compensation for the Black Cats<\/a> \u2013 was deemed unworkable.<\/p>\n Liverpool are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements, with Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni all sidelined<\/a>. Slot was forced to play midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back once again in the 4-1 win over Newcastle<\/a> on Saturday and spelt out his desire for new signings post-match.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we are trying to strengthen the squad and not trying to weaken it,\u201d Slot said on Saturday. \u201cBut yeah, 48 hours to go. Let\u2019s see where the window ends up.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeremy Jacquet will stay with Rennes until the summer(Image: Jean Catuffe\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Jacquet will undoubtedly strengthen the squad \u2013 but crucially not until the summer. The youngster is understood to want to stay with Rennes for the rest of the season in order to help the French side qualify for Europe. They are currently in sixth place in Ligue 1, occupying a Conference League place.<\/p>\n Liverpool currently have no depth in central defence, with summer signing Leoni out for the season with an ACL injury and fellow back-up Gomez also injured. It means Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk are the only available specialist central defenders, with midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo the next best options for Slot.<\/p>\n To make matters worse, Konate\u2019s Liverpool contract runs out at the end of the campaign<\/a> and little progress has been made on a new one. Liverpool are still competing on three fronts, sitting sixth in the Premier League table, two points adrift of the top four, while they are through to the last 16 of the Champions League<\/a> and the fourth round of the FA Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n Join our LFC WhatsApp community<\/a> and get all the latest LFC news, views, transfer gossip and more, as it happens We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a349<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Jeremy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_GettyImages-2250441540.jpg\")
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