Jeremy Jacquet won’t feature for Liverpool until next season, but when he does arrive, he’s expected to be the real deal.
There’s good reason why so many clubs were chasing after Jacquet. Even at 20, he’s already showing signs of being a top-level centre-back.
Standing at 6’4”, he has the physical presence needed to handle any striker, and his defensive skills have drawn early comparisons to Virgil van Dijk.
Jeremy Jacquet sits just behind Virgil van Dijk in European top 5
The Premier League has put a real emphasis on aerial play this season, and Liverpool have felt that. Van Dijk is still a standout in that area, but Jacquet isn’t far behind, even if he’s been playing in a less competitive league.
According to OptaJoe, Jacquet is fifth-best in Europe for winning aerial duels at 75.5%, while his soon-to-be captain is in fourth with 77.3%.
Ibrahima Konate has also shown quality in the air, yet Liverpool’s struggles at defending set-pieces remain clear. It’s not just a weak spot; they rank among the worst teams in the Premier League in this regard.
Jacquet might be closer to Konate than people realise
Liverpool’s centre-back options for next season are still up in the air, especially with Konate’s future not yet settled. If he does leave, though, there’s a sense that Jacquet could fill that gap sooner than expected.
Even though he’s only made 31 senior appearances so far, watching him at Rennes shows clear signs of his potential. He looks like a player ready to take the next step.
Jacquet also offers something extra on the ball compared to Konate. He’s comfortable playing out from the back and carrying possession forward. Even if Konate stays put, there could be real competition for that starting spot.
It’s also worth keeping an eye on Giovanni Leoni as well. While Liverpool didn’t make many moves in the last window, bringing in Jacquet was a smart bit of business — and his arrival should bring some excitement.
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