Arsenal are poised to miss out on one of Europe's most sought-after defensive prospects, with London rivals Chelsea moving decisively to secure a deal. The Gunners, who have been monitoring the situation, now face the prospect of watching a player compared to Virgil van Dijk strengthen a direct competitor.
Chelsea Steal a March on Arsenal and Liverpool
According to a significant update from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have successfully agreed personal terms with Rennes centre-back Jérémie Jacquet. The 20-year-old Frenchman had also been on the radar of both Arsenal and Liverpool, but it is the Stamford Bridge club that has taken a crucial step forward in negotiations.
Romano stated that a contract is ready for the player, who is keen on the move. Talks are now ongoing between Chelsea and Rennes, with the French club holding out for a club-record sale fee of around €65 million. Chelsea's initial bid is understood to be below that valuation, but a delegation has already travelled to France to advance discussions.
Why Arsenal May Let This One Pass
For Mikel Arteta's side, the potential snub is mitigated by their current defensive strength. While Jacquet would have provided high-quality depth behind first-choice pairing William Saliba and Gabriel, the emergence of Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera has covered that need effectively. Hincapié has also demonstrated valuable versatility by slotting in at left-back.
Given the settled nature of their back line, spending in excess of £50 million on another central defender is not considered a pressing priority for Arsenal during this January transfer window. The club's squad is viewed as one of the most complete in recent memory.
Jacquet's Profile and Idols
Standing at 6ft 3in, Jacquet is a ball-playing defender whose technical skills were honed in midfield during his academy years. He credits a loan spell in Ligue 2 for his breakthrough, telling L'Equipe: "When you're young, the most important thing is to play... It shows I'm confident in myself and ready to make sacrifices to reach my goals."
He describes himself as calm and focused on the ball, with a strength in breaking lines with incisive passing. Interestingly for Chelsea fans, his defensive idols are Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, while he also admired Paul Pogba as a youngster. His ambition is clear, and with Levi Colwill sidelined long-term, a path to regular football at Chelsea may have been a persuasive factor.
The move represents a significant coup for Chelsea and a blow to Arsenal's long-term planning, highlighting the relentless competition for top talent between the Premier League's elite clubs.
