How will new signing Jeremy Jacquet fit in at Liverpool?

Liverpool are set to complete the signing of Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, with the Frenchman set to join at the end of the season.

The Reds have beaten rivals Manchester United and Chelsea to the 20-year-old’s signature, with the fee reported to be £55 million, plus £5m in potential add-ons.

Jacquet will continue to play for Rennes until the end of the season and will join Arne Slot’s men in the summer.

The transfer will be welcome news to Liverpool fans, with Jacquet seen as one of Europe’s promising centre-backs.

However, who exactly is the Jacquet, and how will he fit in at Liverpool?

BREAKING: Jeremy Jacquet to Liverpool, here we go! Deal agreed now for June 2026, as revealed.

Understand fee is €60m plus €10m add-ons to Rennes. Jeremy has agreed personal terms with #LFC.

Agreement done for summer 2026 for one of the most talented CBs in the world. pic.twitter.com/eVoA75oAiQ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 1, 2026

Where does Jacquet play for Rennes?

Under coach Habib Beye, the young center back has had quite an unusual role as part of a back three for Rennes this season.

When building up from the back, Jacquet is often asked to step up to form a midfield two and help his side progress the ball up the pitch.

When he is on the ball, the young Frenchman ranks amongst the highest in Ligue 1 for chances created (9).

However, once Rennes are more settled in possession, the Frenchman will drop back into a back three.

Out of possession, Jacquet is aggressive in winning the ball back for his side, as shown by his aerial duel success rate (75.5%).

Where will Jacquet fit in at Liverpool?

The closest player Liverpool have had to Jacquet in recent times is probably Joel Matip.

Much loved by the Liverpool fans during his time on Merseyside, the gangly Cameroonian was famed for his strange mannerisms and awkward – yet somehow graceful – dribbles up the pitch from center back.

Jacquet is similar in the sense that he is equally awkward-looking on the ball, but full of surprises, though not nearly as many as Matip.

Similar to Matip and Ibrahima Konate, Jacquet may be the perfect sidekick to Virgil Van Dijk. With his drive to win the ball back quickly, the Frenchman may complement the composure of Van Dijk, whose reading of the game is something Jacquet will be looking to learn from.

However, having played in a back three at Rennes, it remains to be seen how Arne Slot will utilise Jacquet at Anfield.

Will Liverpool use a back three with Jacquet?

Whilst the future of Konate is uncertain, a back three may suit Liverpool in the future, with wingbacks Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez more comfortable pushing forward. Moreover, with Virgil Van Dijk turning 35 in the summer, it may be time to look to protect the skipper’s legs by adding more bodies around him.

On the other hand, having more bodies in defence would definitely hamper Liverpool’s plethora of forward options, meaning Jacquet is likely to form a part of a back four.

Whether Slot uses Jacquet to push up into midfield remains to be seen. This would mean one of the full-backs would likely have to invert to cover the Frenchman, which is definitely not one of their strengths.

Considering these drawbacks, it is most likely that Jacquet will be asked to pick up in Konate’s potential absence, covering the wide areas when the wing-backs push on and looking to step up and be aggressive in winning the ball back when the Reds have teams boxed in.

Liverpool still need defensive cover in January

Question marks will be raised around the January move – although the Reds will be pleased that Jacquet rejected Chelsea to join Liverpool.

Firstly, the fee of around £55 million can be considered risky for a defender who remains unproven at the top level and is probably a bit inflated in a market where prices are driven up by panic buying.

Secondly, Reds fans will be questioning why the club have forked out the inflated fee for a player who will not be joining until the summer. Liverpool are facing an injury crisis, with Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong, and Conor Bradley all facing spells on the sidelines.

Many had hoped Liverpool would make a smart move for a versatile defender this month to provide cover until the end of the season.

Liverpool were in for Lutsharel Geertruida Geertrudia until complications led the Reds to call off the move.

Future proofing the defence with Jacquet will be welcomed at Anfield, but the one question Liverpool fans may be asking is – what about the present?