Liverpool have pulled off a dramatic deadline day coup by hijacking Chelsea's move for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, but their £60million transfer has failed to address manager Arne Slot's most pressing defensive crisis.
Summer arrival leaves immediate gap
The Reds secured the highly-rated 20-year-old centre-back with a £55million fee plus £5million in add-ons, beating Chelsea's interest in the process. However, in a significant twist, Jacquet will remain with Rennes until the summer, meaning Liverpool's defensive problems persist for the remainder of this season.
Chelsea's frustration grows
Chelsea had held extensive talks with Rennes and Jacquet's representatives throughout the January window, but ultimately refused to match Liverpool's financial package. The failure to secure their defensive target represents a clear blow to manager Liam Rosenior's plans, particularly given Chelsea's own injury concerns at the back.
Liverpool's move for Jacquet came after several defensive transfer plans collapsed. The club had previously agreed a £35million deal for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi in September, only for the England defender to eventually join Manchester City in January instead.
Defensive crisis deepens
Slot's defensive options have become critically thin, with multiple key players sidelined:
- Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni are all currently injured
- Summer signing Leoni is out for the season with an ACL injury
- Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk are the only fit specialist centre-backs
- Midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo are being considered as emergency defensive options
The situation became so desperate that Slot was forced to deploy midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back during Saturday's 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
Contract concerns add to problems
Further complicating matters, Konate's Liverpool contract expires at the end of the current campaign, with little progress reported on renewal negotiations. This leaves Liverpool potentially facing another defensive reshuffle in the summer, regardless of Jacquet's arrival.
Jacquet's delayed impact
The young French defender has chosen to remain with Rennes for the remainder of the season to help the club secure European qualification. Rennes currently occupy sixth place in Ligue 1, which would grant them Conference League football next season.
While Jacquet will undoubtedly strengthen Liverpool's squad when he eventually arrives, signing a five-year contract with an option for a further year, his delayed debut does nothing to address the immediate concerns facing Slot's side.
Triple competition challenge
Liverpool continue to compete on three fronts this season, sitting sixth in the Premier League just two points outside the top four, while also progressing to the Champions League last 16 and FA Cup fourth round. Their defensive limitations could prove costly across all competitions in the coming months.
Slot acknowledged the need for reinforcements after the Newcastle victory, stating: "I think we are trying to strengthen the squad and not trying to weaken it. But yeah, 48 hours to go. Let's see where the window ends up."
The £60million investment in Jacquet represents a significant long-term commitment, but Liverpool's immediate defensive crisis remains unresolved, leaving Slot to navigate the remainder of the season with severely limited options at the back.
