Manchester United made a late attempt to hijack Liverpool's move for Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, but the defender had already agreed terms with the Merseyside club, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg. Liverpool have negotiated a pre-agreement worth an initial £55m plus £5m in add-ons for the 20-year-old, with the transfer set to go through in the summer.
Jacquet had also been a target for Chelsea earlier in January, but Rennes were reluctant to sell mid-season. The Frenchman ultimately chose Liverpool over Chelsea, believing he has a better chance of regular first-team football at Anfield. His arrival comes amid uncertainty over Ibrahima Konate's future, with the French defender out of contract in the summer and linked with Real Madrid.
United, meanwhile, are expected to have a quiet end to the January transfer window, focusing on securing exits for academy graduates. Manager Michael Carrick said: "To be honest, I think we're just working through it. Never say never, of course, because a lot can happen and situations can be thrown up. I'm pretty calm."
On the pitch, United's revival under Carrick continued with a dramatic 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday, moving them back into the Premier League's top four. Benjamin Sesko scored a stoppage-time winner after Fulham had come from 2-0 down to level. Carrick praised the team's effort and Sesko's moment in front of the Stretford End.
