Liverpool beat late rival move to seal summer centre-back deal
Liverpool’s planned summer signing of Jeremy Jacquet appears to be secure despite a late attempt by Manchester United to intervene. Recent reports suggest the rival bid came too late to alter the defender’s decision.
This is significant because it reflects Liverpool’s recent transfer strategy: securing agreements early and staying composed when competition intensifies close to deadlines.
Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg revealed on X that United’s move failed because Liverpool had already reached an agreement with the player.
“Exclusive: Manchester United attempted to hijack Jeremy Jacquet’s summer move to Liverpool in the final hours but were unsuccessful. Jacquet had already agreed terms with Liverpool.”
While it may seem like a minor detail, it reinforces the broader narrative emerging in recent days — that Jacquet is viewed as a long-term defensive project rather than an immediate solution to current injury problems.
The context is crucial. Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle at the weekend proved they can cope even when forced to improvise defensively, but it also highlighted how stretched the squad becomes when multiple injuries occur simultaneously.
Why competition for Jacquet mattered
At 20 years old and already a French youth international, Jacquet fits the profile Liverpool have increasingly targeted: young players with the potential to develop into elite performers rather than short-term fixes.
The Rennes centre-back stands 191cm tall, offering a glimpse of his physical and technical attributes even before deeper scouting analysis.
Interest from Chelsea and Bayern Munich further underlined that this was never going to be a straightforward deal. That’s why reports of United’s late approach are so revealing — Liverpool had done the crucial groundwork early by securing the player’s commitment before rivals stepped up their pursuit.
Jacquet’s stats highlight Liverpool’s long-term vision
Although Jacquet is still developing, his consistency stands out. According to SofaScore, he has started all 18 Ligue 1 matches in the 2025/26 season, playing 1,604 minutes and completing 91% of his passes — evidence of both reliability and comfort in possession.
His numbers include:.
18 starts and 1,604 minutes played
52.5 accurate passes per game (91%)
1.0 interception per game
1.4 tackles per game
4.7 clearances per game
2.1 aerial duels won per game (76%)
5 clean sheets
4 yellow cards and 2 red cards
While these figures don’t guarantee success in the Premier League, they explain why Liverpool were willing to face stiff competition for a player considered a high-upside investment for the future.
The aim isn’t merely to manage short-term injury concerns but to strengthen depth and quality ahead of next season, as senior defenders age and contract decisions loom.
With David Ornstein reporting that Jacquet is heading to Merseyside for a medical, Liverpool’s success in beating domestic and European rivals to his signature makes the deal even more satisfying.