Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed that the race for Jérémy Jacquet is heating up. With the February 2026 deadline right around the corner, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Liverpool and Chelsea are still deep in talks with Stade Rennais. At the same time, they are staying in close contact with the young French defender’s camp.

Despite the early rumours, Bayern Munich look like they’ve dropped out of the running for this window. Rennes are sticking to one major rule for any deal: they won’t let the 20-year-old player leave until July 2026. This puts the English clubs in a tough spot. They have to come up with the cash now, but wait until the summer to actually get him on the pitch.

Jeremy Jacquet is a rare find in today’s market because he’s got the size and the skill to match. He’s great at winning the ball back aggressively, but he also has the vision to start attacks from the defence like a playmaker. It makes sense that Liverpool see him as the perfect long-term replacement for their veteran defenders.

Meanwhile, Chelsea want to add more youth to their squad, especially since they’ve been targeting top-tier French talent lately....