Rennes coach Habib Beye urges board to keep Jeremy Jacquet amid Chelsea interest

Rennes manager Habib Beye has called on the club to resist selling young defender Jeremy Jacquet during the January transfer window, despite Chelsea reportedly agreeing personal terms with the 21-year-old.

Jacquet is said to be pushing for a move to Stamford Bridge, but Beye insists the player is too vital to Rennes’ ambitions to let him leave midway through the season.

Following Rennes’ 1-1 draw with Le Havre on Sunday, Beye, who is of Senegalese descent, spoke candidly about Jacquet’s importance to the squad.

“I believe that today he is a very important player for our objectives,” he said. “If tomorrow we were to let him go, we would have to lower our expectations.”

The French coach acknowledged the lure of a club like Chelsea, but made it clear that Jacquet’s contributions on the pitch outweigh any potential transfer fee.

“When you have offers from such a club, it can make things a little hesitant. I’m very firm on this situation. He is an essential player for us.”

Jacquet has been a consistent presence in Rennes’ defense this season, helping stabilize a backline that has struggled at times in Ligue 1.

With Rennes aiming for a top-four finish and European qualification, Beye believes retaining the youngster is crucial for maintaining momentum in the second half of the campaign.