‘The best project’: £25m ‘diamond’ explains why he didn’t join Liverpool or Newcastle

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Belgium international Jeremy Doku is convinced joining Rennes was the right move despite interest from Liverpool and Newcastle United, speaking to RTL.

When Kevin de Bruyne is gushing about your talents, you know you’ve got something special.

And after Doku marked his second appearance for the Belgian national team with a stunning goal in the 5-1 thrashing of Iceland, the Manchester City talisman couldn’t contain himself when discussing the vast potential of this 18-year-old ‘diamond in the rough’.

Doku may be a ‘diamond’ but he’s certainly in the ‘rough’ no longer.

A £25 million move from Anderlecht to Rennes means one of the game’s most expensive teenagers will be playing Champions League football this season.

And, while clubs from the other side of the Channel were interested too, Doku is convinced he can thrive at a club that has a fine track record when it comes to producing exciting young talent.

If you require proof, I give you Ousmane Dembele, Ismaila Sarr, Eduardo Camavinga and co.

“I chose Rennes because it was the best project that presented itself to me,” says a winger Roberto Martinez has labelled an “exceptional talent”.

“Ligue 1 is a higher level (than in Belgium). We play the Champions League too. I have to take new steps. More will be expected with my new club, that’s for sure, but it’s up to me to prove (my talent).”

Doku will certainly find first-team football easier to come by at Rennes than he would have at Liverpool – even if Jurgen Klopp is convinced this is the “new Sadio Mane” (Nieuwsblad).

Newcastle, meanwhile, have turned Allan Saint-Maximin from a frustrating, FIFA Street wannabe into a genuine match-winning talent at the top level.

But while Rennes are playing Champions League football for the first time, the Magpies haven’t sat at Europe’s elite table in almost two decades (Voetbal Krant).