Liverpool’s pursuit of Jeremy Jacquet has not gone away, but the club have deliberately chosen to slow the process rather than rush into a big-money deal.
The 19-year-old defender has been on the Premier League champions’ shortlist for months and is widely viewed as one of the most promising centre backs in Europe. With the fee being discussed at around £60 million, it would be a major investment for Liverpool this summer. Yet despite the noise around the transfer, there has been no sprint to get it done early.
That is by design.
Those close to the situation believe Liverpool want to control both the price and the timing of any potential move. A large fee for a teenager is always going to attract scrutiny, and the club’s recruitment team are known to be patient when they feel the market can be shaped in their favour. By waiting, Liverpool reduce the risk of getting pulled into an auction or paying a premium simply because they moved first.
There is also a football reason. Liverpool are not acting out of panic, because their current defensive options give them breathing room. The staff are assessing what the squad needs once pre-season is underway, rather than committing immediately to a deal that could dominate the budget. It is not a case of doubts about Jacquet’s talent, but of wanting full clarity on where he fits and how quickly he would be expected to play.
Jacquet’s camp, for their part, are understood to be open to a new challenge. A move to Anfield would offer the chance to compete at the highest level and work under a coaching group that has developed young defenders well. But a transfer of this size comes with pressure, and Liverpool do not want the player walking into an environment where expectations are unrealistic from day one.
The structure of the deal is another factor. Liverpool often prefer agreements with clear add-ons and performance-based payments, especially when the headline number is high. That takes time, and the club are unlikely to accept a simple “pay up or walk away” stance if they believe there is room to negotiate.
For now, the message is that Liverpool’s interest remains genuine, but the club are playing the long game. If the conditions suit them, Jacquet could still arrive for a significant fee. If not, Liverpool appear comfortable waiting rather than making a £60 million statement for the sake of it.
