‘Extraordinary’ Jacquet verdict after £60m Liverpool deal | Football | Sport
Paul Merson has voiced his astonishment at the conditions surrounding Liverpool’s agreement with Rennes for Jeremy Jacquet. The Reds have secured a £60million deal to bring in Jacquet before the transfer window closes.
The arrangement comprises an initial £55million fee with an additional £5million in bonuses, with Liverpool fending off reported competition from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United to secure Jacquet’s signature. The highly-rated young defender is considered amongst Europe’s best emerging defensive talents.
However, the agreement stipulates that Jacquet will remain at Rennes for the remainder of this campaign rather than making an immediate switch to Anfield. Jacquet won’t join the Liverpool squad until the summer, ready for the 2026/2027 season, by which time there are hopes that Giovanni Leoni will also have recovered from a serious knee injury.
Liverpool have been expected to bolster their defensive options during this window, particularly after failing to land Marc Guehi, who subsequently moved to Manchester City, reports the Liverpool Echo.
With Jacquet’s transfer on the verge of being confirmed, Merson has outlined his surprise at the structure of the deal – questioning Liverpool’s decision to pay such a substantial sum for a player who won’t be available until next season.
“I found it extraordinary that [Jacquet] is coming in the summer,” Merson said on Sky Sports News. “They [Liverpool] need a centre-half now to get into the top-four or top-five. It surprises me. It’s a good signing – as a Chelsea fan I’m shocked he hasn’t come to Chelsea, but I’m glad [Josh] Acheampong is now staying.
“I’m majorly shocked. I don’t know why for the life of me he’s staying in France until the start of next season. With that kind of money, you want him now!”
During the past week, Liverpool had been working towards securing a deal for RB Leipzig defender Lutsharel Geertruida ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.
Geertruida is presently on loan at Sunderland, and the Reds were keen on arranging an agreement that would have seen defender’s stint at the Stadium of Light come to an early end in favour of a transfer to Anfield.
Nevertheless, with Sunderland failing to identify a suitable replacement for Geertruida before the window shut, Liverpool’s hopes of signing the ex-Feyenoord star at Anfield came to an end.
