Liverpool ready to rival Arsenal for “Rolls Royce” CB

It’s all going on at Liverpool.

Though the Anfield side’s faithful all wait for the outcome of the Alexander Isak saga with bated breath, FSG are well aware that a new centre-back needs to be signed before the closure of the transfer window.

Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen was pursued in May, but the Spanish prodigy signed for Real Madrid in a £50m package. Nonetheless, an alternative is still needed, not least because Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for as much as £35m last month.

Liverpool lining up new centre-back

Marc Guehi is Liverpool’s first-choice option to bolster Arne Slot’s backline, and the Crystal Palace star wants the Reds too.

However, Newcastle United are also interested, and Liverpool aren’t willing to meet the Eagles’ £50m demands with just one year left on the player’s deal.

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have entered the race for Stade Rennais centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, who is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Jacquet, 20, has only just emerged onto the senior stage but has already established himself as one of French football’s most exciting talents.

Rennes know this, however, and rejected Arsenal’s approach. Thus, sporting director Richard Hughes has his work cut out if he’s to engineer a deal and complete Slot’s backline ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Why Liverpool want Jeremy Jacquet

Liverpool must sign a central defender this month. While there is tentative optimism among Liverpool circles that Slot will watch Ibrahima Konate pen a new deal at Anfield, Joe Gomez’s recent Achilles injury and, indeed, Quansah’s departure both suggest that more depth is paramount.

Virgil van Dijk and Konate will continue their peerless partnership protecting the sticks, but Jacquet would add the extra depth needed to compete across multiple fronts, with a fast-rising skill set that may yet reach elite status.

Described by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “Rolls-Royce” of a defender with the potential to become one of the centre-backs in the world, and with that in mind, Jacquet might even prove to be Liverpool’s own version of Huijsen.

Despite having only played 12 times for Rennes after leaving Clermont Foot in the second tier of French football, Jacquet’s expansive qualities align with Huijsen’s, blending a burgeoning passing game with a steely defensive side, strong in the duel and proactive in the tackle.

Jacquet’s aggressive and technically astute playing style has even seen him draw comparisons to Arsenal’s William Saliba, so it’s no surprise the Gunners want to get a deal done. However, this also confirms that Liverpool must ensure they win the race.

If that wasn’t enough, Arsenal also had a vested interest in Huijsen before Los Blancos stole ahead and completed a stunning deal.

Only, this time, Liverpool could win the race if they push ahead now.