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Football
Liverpool's new signing Jeremy Jacquet discusses the pressure of his £60 million transfer fee and his determination to succeed at Anfield.
Jeremy Jacquet acknowledged the intense scrutiny following Liverpool's £60 million acquisition of him from Rennes, a transfer that includes an initial £55 million payment plus £5 million in add-ons. The defender, who will turn 21 in July, expressed confidence in his ability to meet expectations despite his limited experience of 31 Ligue 1 appearances.
Jacquet finalized the agreement in February and is set to join Liverpool officially this summer. He described his decision-making process as thoughtful, emphasizing his focus on the sporting project and personal development. "I won't say it was a quick decision because I took my time with this big step, but I quickly saw myself at Liverpool," he told Ouest-France. "At my age, I prioritise the sporting side. I'm focused on football."
Liverpool views Jacquet as a long-term defensive solution and secured his signature ahead of Chelsea. The player is aware of the pressure that comes with such a significant financial investment for a young player with limited top-level experience. He stated, "Promising young players command quite high prices and of course, that adds pressure: am I worth that price or not? I think I have the minimum resources to go there. I'm going there to play as much as possible."
Jacquet also revealed he initially contemplated a smaller move but was ultimately drawn to Liverpool's offer. "If the biggest clubs in Europe are interested, we're not going to turn them down. They're there for a reason," he said.
The competition for Jacquet's signature was intense, but he felt Chelsea presented too much positional competition and less clarity in his role compared to Liverpool. Now recovered from a serious shoulder injury, he expects to be fully fit for pre-season training under Liverpool's coaching staff.
"At Chelsea, I felt there were quite a lot of people in my position. Whereas at Liverpool, apart from the fact that Virgil van Dijk is nearing the end of his career, training with him is going to be huge," Jacquet explained. "He's going to teach me so much. There's also Ibou Konate, who can help me settle in. Training with guys like that, it doesn't get any better than that."
Jacquet's arrival coincides with a period of change for Liverpool's defense, with Joe Gomez's future uncertain and Giovanni Leoni recovering from a severe knee injury. The young defender believes Liverpool offers the ideal environment to justify his transfer fee and become a regular starter at Anfield for years to come.
"I spoke with the management; the club's history weighed heavily on my decision but so did the project they offered me," Jacquet remarked.
