Why PSG Passed on Jeremy Jacquet Before £60m Liverpool Switch

Liverpool have secured a club-record deal for 20-year-old Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, worth £55m plus £5m in add-ons, outbidding rivals like Chelsea and Bayern Munich. The France U21 international, who will join Anfield in summer 2026 after finishing the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season with Rennes, signed a five-year contract with an option for an extra year. This move aligns with Liverpool's strategy of investing in elite young talent, averaging under 22 years old in recent windows, amid defensive injury concerns involving Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Giovanni Leoni[1][3][5][8].

Jacquet's rapid rise began in Rennes' academy after joining from Racing Club de Joinville in 2019. He debuted for the senior team in January 2024 against Nice, followed by a loan to Clermont Foot, where he impressed despite their relegation battle. Recalled early from a second loan in 2024-25 after starring in France U19s' European Championship final run—earning Team of the Tournament honors—Jacquet became a Ligue 1 regular, anchoring Rennes' back-three and contributing aerially and in build-up play. This season, he's made 18 appearances, helping Rennes push for Europa League spots[3][5][6][8].

PSG scouted Jacquet extensively but ultimately passed, opting instead for Sékou Doucouré. A former PSG recruiter revealed they hesitated due to Jacquet's profile not fully matching the club's development philosophy, with doubts over his technical ability. Le Parisien described his breakout year as "sensational," yet PSG prioritized alternatives, allowing Liverpool to swoop in late after Jacquet expressed preference for Anfield's project over Chelsea's interest[6][7].

Rennes, prolific sellers of talents like Ousmane Dembélé, Jérémy Doku, and Eduardo Camavinga, net €64m-€70m from this transfer, boosting their €275m windfall in recent years[4][6]. Chelsea now eye "revenge" targets like Toulouse's Charlie Cresswell, while Liverpool view Jacquet as the future partner to Leoni in their defensive rebuild[2].

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