Chelsea are pushing to do a deal for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet with the two clubs apart in terms of a valuation for the French wonderkid. But just what can Chelsea fans expect from Jacquet?
The 20-year-old has starred in Ligue 1 with Rennes over the past 12 months, ever since he was recalled by Rennes at the start of the year from a loan spell with Clermont. Chelsea have been keeping a close eye.
Chelsea have accelerated plans to sign a centre-back and Jacquet has been targeted as the priority. The Blues will move for Marcos Senesi, if Rennes are unwilling to reduce their massive £60m price tag.
Como’s Jacobo Ramon is also an option but Real Madrid are on pole for the Spaniard. There is concern that spending big on Jacquet is just more money wasted, with Liam Rosenior in need of more experience.
How much would you be willing to pay for Jeremy Jacquet?💰
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Julien Laurens tells Chelsea fans what they can expect
But speaking to Sky Sports News, French football expert Julien Laurens told Sky Sports News on Tuesday that Jacquet is the real deal and compared the defender to Arsenal’s William Saliba, and Wesley Fofana.
“He’s the real deal. I know he’s only 20, very little experience, hasn’t played for France, in the Champions League or even the Europa League. There’s still a long way to go, but he’s been impressive,” Laurens said.
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“Liam Rosenior knows him well, he’s played against him, seen him in action. He’s going to be amazing, he reminds me of William Saliba, when he burst onto the scene in France. Wesley Fofana at St. Etienne, too.”
Jacquet would be a sensational addition then, according to Laurens. Whether Chelsea manages to get a deal over the line in the final 10 days of the window remains to be seen, with talks in France ongoing.
How much does Laurens think is a fair price for Jacquet?
Despite Jacquet’s potential, he’s vastly inexperienced. Little over 50 club career appearances and just over half of that for Les Rouges et Noirs. But the potential is vast and France do produce good centre-backs.
So, how much is Jacquet worth? Well, Laurens states that Rennes want more than the fee received for Man City star Jeremy Doku. A whopping £60m on such a player is massive, and Laurens had his say.
Should Chelsea recall Aaron Anselmino or sign Jeremy Jacquet?
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“How much do you value his potential? It is a lot of money, is it £50m? Rennes want more than what they received for Jeremy Doku for Man City. That means more than £60m. It is a lot of money, for sure.”
For now, Rosenior will have to pick from Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Tosin, though the latter is a potential doubt having come off early against Brentford. Chelsea face Pafos tomorrow evening.
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