Liverpool Agrees £60m Deal for Rennes Defender Jacquet Amid Chelsea Competition

Liverpool has reached a £60 million agreement with Rennes for the transfer of 20-year-old defender Jeremi Jacquet, as reported by British media. Despite Liverpool's urgent need for defensive reinforcements, Jacquet will not move to Anfield until the end of the season.

Chelsea had also shown interest in Jacquet earlier but was reportedly deterred by competition for a place in their central defense. Liverpool, in contrast, is facing a shortage of central defenders with captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Giovanni Leoni sidelined due to injuries.

Jacquet, a French U21 international, made 31 appearances for Rennes last season in Ligue 1. The deal includes an initial payment of £55 million with an additional £5 million in contingent add-ons.