Jeremy Jacquet reportedly prefers a switch to Chelsea amid ongoing talks between the West Londoners and Stade Rennais.
According to Sky Sports, Jeremy Jacquet has reportedly made his preference to join Chelsea over other suitors clear amid ongoing talks. The Blues are facing competition from the Liverpool and Bayern Munich for the defender, with the Londoners not keen on matching Stade Rennais’s €65 million asking price.
Chelsea have been chasing Jeremy Jacquet since the start of January, in the hope of signing the young centre-back on reasonable terms. The Blues have felt a shortage of central defensive options all season, which started with the season-ending injury to Levi Colwill earlier in the campaign.
The recent injury to Tosin Adarabioyo has accelerated their push to sign a new centre-back this month, but that was also an idea heading into January. They had been stepping up their efforts to sign Stade Rennais’s young defender Jeremy Jacquet, who had previous interest from Arsenal and continues to attract attention from other top teams.
Chelsea held extensive talks with Rennais for Jeremy Jacquet, but the French side are unwilling to sell and are demanding at least €65 million. The price point is based on their power in negotiations as well as the defender’s importance to the team in the second part of the season.
Chelsea are keen to pay less for Jacquet compared to the asking price for the €65 million-rated Ligue 1 defensive sensation. Talks are ongoing between the two clubs to find a solution, although Rennais will be boosted by the fact that teams like Liverpool and Bayern Munich are interested in a summer deal, and might be willing to pay the right price then.
Jeremy Jacquet prefers Chelsea?
Amid interest from elsewhere, Jeremy Jacquet has reportedly made his preference clear as he wants to join Chelsea. The making of this decision might lean towards his chances at the club and the idea of playing regularly while developing his talents there.
However, any deal will depend on Chelsea’s ability to convince Rennais over the fee and sell the €65 million-rated defensive sensation this month. They have identified other targets like Bournemouth’s Marco Senesi as an alternative to the young Frenchman, as the Blues look intent on landing a new centre-back before the closure of the January window.