Liverpool’s £55m gamble on Jeremy Jacquet is paying off as 21-year-old closes in on Virgil van Dijk territory

Liverpool’s decision to spend an initial £55 million on Jeremy Jacquet is already looking like a masterstroke, with the young defender making an immediate impression at Anfield and drawing comparisons with club captain Virgil van Dijk.

The 21-year-old has made just 12 appearances for the Reds since arriving from Rennes in the summer, but his performances have helped transform the club’s defensive fortunes.

Liverpool have kept clean sheets in half of those outings and rank fourth for expected goals against (xGA) this season, with only Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth boasting better figures.

The improvement is particularly striking considering Liverpool managed just 10 clean sheets throughout the entirety of last season, finishing joint-seventh in that category.

Jacquet’s rapid adaptation to English football has therefore provided an early return on a transfer that attracted considerable criticism when Liverpool agreed to meet Rennes’ valuation in January.

Liverpool beat Chelsea to £55m defensive prospect

Liverpool’s decision to secure Jacquet’s services raised eyebrows because of his limited senior experience. The Frenchman had made only 33 first-team appearances for Rennes when the Premier League champions committed to the deal.

Chelsea had also identified the centre-back as a priority target during the January transfer window, with transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reporting that the London club had agreed personal terms with the defender.

Romano described Jacquet as Chelsea’s “clear main target” for their defensive rebuild, with a contract reportedly ready and the player keen on the move.

However, Liverpool eventually won the race by agreeing to Rennes’ demands and allowing the defender to remain in France for the remainder of the season before completing his switch to Merseyside.

The decision was viewed as a significant gamble, particularly after Liverpool’s substantial spending in the previous summer transfer window.

Unlike established arrivals such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, Jacquet had yet to establish himself over a full season in senior football.

That lack of experience prompted questions about whether Liverpool had committed too much money to a player who had not been tested consistently at the highest level.

World Cup winner questions Liverpool’s judgement

Former France international Christophe Dugarry was among the critics who questioned the transfer fee, arguing that Liverpool had paid far too much for the young defender.

“This isn’t meant to offend the player; honestly, he’s not to blame at all, and we wish him all the best because he’s a good player. When you have suckers like that…well done to Rennes. Rennes managed to find a sucker like Liverpool for 72m euros.”

Dugarry also warned that the fee could place unnecessary pressure on Jacquet, making it difficult for him to develop without intense scrutiny.

“And even for poor little Jacquet, this transfer is going to put a lot of pressure on him. Even him, the poor kid, who is certainly a very good player, is going to arrive with a pall of pressure.”

His comments reflected the wider doubts surrounding Liverpool’s decision to invest heavily in a relatively inexperienced centre-back.

However, Jacquet’s performances have increasingly shifted attention away from the price tag and towards his contribution on the pitch.

Jacquet follows Van Dijk’s path

There are early similarities between Jacquet’s experience and Van Dijk’s arrival at Liverpool in January 2018.

The Dutch defender joined from Southampton for £75 million, a fee that attracted widespread criticism at the time. His performances eventually silenced those questioning the investment as he established himself as one of the world’s leading centre-backs.

Jacquet has yet to reach comparable heights, but his ability to adapt quickly to the Premier League has already made the initial scepticism surrounding his transfer less prominent.

His statistics underline the quality of his early performances. The defender has recorded a top speed approaching 35km/h and boasts a passing accuracy of almost 89% in the league.

He also attempts more than 13 line-breaking passes and six long passes per 90 minutes, demonstrating his ability to contribute to Liverpool’s build-up play.

Defensively, Jacquet has won 70% of his ground duels and 74% of his aerial battles, highlighting his strength and composure against opposition forwards.

Van Dijk backs Liverpool’s rising star

Jacquet has also developed a promising partnership with Van Dijk, whose leadership has helped the young defender settle into life at Anfield.

Following Liverpool’s victory over Brighton, the club captain praised his new defensive partner while emphasising the potential for further improvement.

“He’s a fantastic player and he has got so much more to come.”

Van Dijk added: “It’s very exciting for Liverpool and it’s down to him to keep working hard, keep learning and keep level-headed. Both of us have to get to know what the other does in certain situations. You get to know each other in so many moments.

“So far we have been doing pretty well.”

Jacquet still has plenty to prove before he can be mentioned in the same breath as Van Dijk, but his early performances suggest Liverpool may have secured an exceptional defensive talent.

For a player whose transfer fee once attracted widespread criticism, his rapid progress is already making the £55 million investment look increasingly difficult to question.