Liverpool have come to a preliminary agreement with Rennes to acquire defender Jérémy Jacquet this summer, according to sources cited by ESPN.
The transaction is anticipated to be valued at £55 million ($74 million) along with an additional £5 million ($6.8 million) in performance-related bonuses, as per the sources, with the 20-year-old considered a vital component of Liverpool’s defensive restructuring.
Chelsea also expressed interest in the center-back; however, sources informed ESPN that he prefers a transfer to Anfield, with personal terms likely to be straightforward.
Liverpool requires defensive enhancements, given the uncertainty surrounding the futures of Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson, both of whom are set to be out of contract this summer. The Premier League champions attempted to secure Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace last summer, but Palace canceled the £35 million ($47.8 million) agreement on deadline day.
England international Guéhi transferred to rivals Manchester City earlier this month. Sources indicated to ESPN that Liverpool had discussions regarding a January transfer for Netherlands international Lutsharel Geertruida, who is currently on a season-long loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig.
Nevertheless, Liverpool chose not to pursue the transfer after Sunderland failed to identify a replacement.
Liverpool have encountered numerous defensive injuries this season, with Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, while Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong are also unavailable.
Arne Slot’s defending Premier League champions currently sit in 6th place, 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, but only two points adrift of Manchester United in fourth.
