Liverpool have struck an agreement with Rennes to bring in highly rated centre-back Jeremy Jacquet at the end of the season.
The Reds have secured a pre-deal for the 20-year-old worth an initial £55 million, with a further £5 million in potential add-ons, following talks with the French club over the weekend.
Jacquet had also been heavily tracked by Chelsea, who entered discussions with Rennes last month, while Manchester United and Arsenal have monitored him for some time.
Despite that interest, the France Under-21 international now appears set to choose Liverpool, with reports from France suggesting he has been won over by the long-term project presented by the Premier League champions.
Under the terms of the agreement, Jacquet will remain at Rennes for the rest of the season before joining Liverpool in the summer, where he is expected to play a major role in a defensive overhaul that began last year with the £26 million signing of teenage Parma defender Giovanni Leoni.
Jacquet is understood to be keen on staying with Rennes until the campaign ends to help them push for European qualification. The club currently sit sixth in the table, occupying a Conference League spot.
While there remains a possibility that Chelsea or another rival could submit a larger bid before Monday night’s transfer deadline and attempt to sway the player, Rennes are reportedly reluctant to let Jacquet leave this month. That stance follows the recent sale of another prospect, 18-year-old forward Kader Meite, to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
As things stand, Liverpool are well placed to finalise the move, with personal terms not expected to pose any issues.
Jacquet has been a regular for Rennes this season, starting 18 of their 20 league matches and missing the remaining two through suspension. He broke into the first team last season after two loan spells with Clermont Foot.
Liverpool have long been expected to strengthen at centre-back in the summer. Ibrahima Konate is currently set to leave on a free transfer amid stalled contract talks, captain Virgil van Dijk turns 35 in July, and Joe Gomez has struggled with fitness problems over the past 18 months.
The club had also explored the possibility of cutting short Lutsharel Geertruida’s season-long loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig as a short-term fix across right-back and centre-back, but the move collapsed due to Sunderland’s lack of defensive cover.
