Jérémy Jacquet has recently emerged as a potential target for Chelsea as Liam Rosenior looks to further bolster his backline. The 20-year-old defender has made quite the impression at Stade Rennais, putting himself in the shop window for Europe’s top clubs.
While Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana have grown to become a formidable centre-half pairing, there’s still room for improvement. football.london understands that the Blues are interested in signing Jacquet, whose contract at Roazhon Park expires in June 2029.
Under the new ownership, Chelsea haven’t been afraid to splash the cash in January, and they’re cautiously optimistic of signing a centre-back this month. The sporting directors are in a race against time, with the window set to slam shut at 7pm on February 2.
So, to find out a bit more about the France Under-21 international, football.london spoke to French football expert and Get French Football News editor-in-chief, Luke Entwistle.
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“I would say it was a bit of a perfect storm in terms of his emergence. He was excellent on loan in Ligue 2 in the first half of last season, and so Rennes paid Clermont to bring him back early.
“His return then coincided with a managerial change and so, as is always the case, the notion of a hierarchy is abolished, and all players have an equal(ish) chance to impress the new manager, Habib Beye in this case.
“Jacquet was one of the major benefactors of that and immediately convinced, likely buoyed by what was a confidence-boosting stint in the second tier.”
“There are definitely similarities with the [William] Saliba trajectory, given how quickly Jacquet has attracted big-name suitors. There was this idea that when Saliba got the move, it was at a point that he wasn’t necessarily ready to make that big jump to the Premier League, and I think there could be similar concerns around Jacquet, given his inexperience.”
“Very hard to tell if he’s ready for the step, honestly. There are recent examples of young defenders excelling in Ligue 1 but then struggling following a big move. Leny Yoro and Benoit Badiashile are two cautionary tales, perhaps.
“What the Saliba example showed is that defenders maybe need more time, and Arsenal’s management of that was ultimately excellent. The nature of the market forces clubs to move on players like Jacquet early, maybe too early.
“I would expect Jacquet to need time, just as his compatriots who have made the same journey across the Channel.”
“Chelsea can expect a modern defender: composed on the ball, a good range of passing, strong positioning and a good reading of the game. In terms of his personality, he hasn’t done too many interviews or pressers.
“He did an interview in L’Equipe in which he gave the impression of someone who is very assured of himself, very confident, articulate, too, even if he admits that he perhaps needs to work on being a more vocal presence in the dressing room and on the pitch.
“But he’s only 20, and that comes in time, you’re not necessarily the most legitimate voice when you’re that young but I’d expect him to grow in that sense.”
