Liverpool and Chelsea hold discussions over potential club-record transfer ahead of deadline day.

Chelsea and Liverpool are reportedly locked in a fierce race to sign a promising young centre-back, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

With the January transfer window set to close at 7pm on Monday, 2 February, Premier League clubs have just over a day left to strengthen their squads for the remainder of the season.

Liverpool enjoyed a dominant Premier League title triumph last season in Arne Slot’s debut campaign at Anfield. However, defending their crown now looks unlikely, as the Reds sit 14 points behind leaders Arsenal with only 14 matches left to play.

Slot’s side boosted their confidence with a 4-1 comeback victory over Newcastle United at Anfield, thanks to a brace from Hugo Ekitike and goals from Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konaté after Anthony Gordon had given the visitors an early lead.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have experienced significant success recently, winning the FIFA Club World Cup in the summer and the UEFA Conference League last season. But the club has undergone managerial change this campaign, with Liam Rosenior replacing Enzo Maresca.

The Blues also produced a dramatic comeback of their own, overturning a 2-0 half-time deficit to beat West Ham United 3-2. Goals from João Pedro, Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernández sealed the turnaround after strikes from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, while Jean-Clair Todibo was sent off late in stoppage time following a heated incident.

Romano now reports that both Chelsea and Liverpool are targeting Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet. The 20-year-old, a product of Rennes’ academy, has featured 30 times for the French club over the last three seasons.

Although a move is unlikely in January, the two Premier League giants are expected to battle for Jacquet’s signature in the summer transfer window. Romano also suggested the deal could become Rennes’ biggest-ever sale, surpassing the £55m they received from Manchester City for Jeremy Doku in 2023.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano emphasised that the race is intense, with both clubs negotiating every detail — from transfer fee and salary to long-term project and development plans — as they try to convince the player to choose their proposal. Rennes, however, are determined not to sell in the current window, meaning the contest is set to continue ahead of the 2026/27 season.