Story by
Jacquet: Chelsea's loss is Liverpool's gain
- Story by
- Jacquet: Chelsea's loss is Liverpool's gain
[Getty Images]
On Wednesday, Liverpool will welcome Xabi Alonso back to Anfield when Chelsea visit in the Carabao Cup. Jeremy Jacquet could easily have been wearing blue had Liverpool not accelerated their push for him in January,
Chelsea were keen and Jacquet was rated highly internally at Stamford Bridge but he chose the Reds.
Advertisement
At the time, the move raised eyebrows, particularly for a player who had only made 36 appearances in France's Ligue 1.
Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi last summer and were having a poor season but Richard Hughes, the former sporting director, was prepared to wait until the summer, with Rennes unwilling to sanction a move in January.
On deadline day in January, journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Sport: "It's a lot of money but Jacquet has everything to become one of the best centre-backs in the world in the next few years. He is arguably the best centre-back of his generation."
A few months into the new season, it seems Liverpool have settled on a gem.
Advertisement
Jacquet is part of a quartet at Anfield, alongside Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo, taking English lessons and like everything else, he is understood to be taking that in his stride.
He lives in Liverpool and spends a lot of his time with fellow youngsters including Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, and those at AXA Training Centre say he is mature and confident off the pitch, just like he is on the pitch.
Having two experienced figures in Virgil van Dijk and Ronald Araujo either side of him on the field has certainly helped but in the space of a few months, Jacquet has made himself one of the first names on the team sheet.
He went off early in the first few games as he built his fitness up but there are no such concerns any more.
Advertisement
"Our relationship is good. It's getting better every day that we work together. That's what I said from day one. It takes games especially but also training sessions and conversations off the pitch," said Van Dijk, 35, who is the only Liverpool defender to cost more than Jacquet.
"There's good moments and not, but it's how we react and help each other and you can see the partnership coming along.
"He's doing very well. Let's see where the ceiling will be. I don't think he's there yet so let's keep going."
