Liverpool's Strategic Masterstroke: The Hidden Reason Behind Jeremy Jacquet's £60 Million Transfer Delay
Liverpool and Rennes allegedly had multiple motivations to finalize a £60 million ($82.2 million) agreement, with the Premier League club's primary concern being compliance with financial fair play regulations.
Jacquet represented by far the largest transaction completed on Transfer Deadline Day by any Premier League team, yet despite an obvious requirement for defensive additions, the promising center-back won't officially join Liverpool until the 2026–27 campaign. This structure was designed with previous summer expenditure considerations.
The Merseyside club engaged in substantial spending ahead of the 2025–26 season, investing over £450 million on multiple new signings while shattering the British transfer record on two separate occasions. Liverpool could execute such ambitious business while remaining compliant with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) thanks to their restrained spending in earlier windows and significant prize money from their Premier League championship.
Nevertheless, financial resources have limits.
Through postponing Jacquet's transfer completion, Liverpool can allocate his £60 million cost to the 2026–27 financial period, according to L'Équipe reports. Had the transaction been finalized in January, Rennes would have anticipated receiving at least one payment installment for Liverpool's second-costliest center-back acquisition ever. These payments can now be pushed to the following season and new accounting records.
Why Liverpool Didn't Buy Jacquet and Loan Him Back to Rennes
Why Liverpool Didn't Buy Jacquet and Loan Him Back to Rennes
Jacquet's postponement clearly advantages Rennes by allowing them to retain their top defender for an additional six months. "We arranged the transfer, secured the fee the club sought, honored the player's preferences and maintain his services for the season's remainder," explained manager Habib Beye. "This reflects market realities. We simply lack the resources to compete otherwise."
If Liverpool had completed Jacquet's acquisition in January with a loan-back arrangement to Rennes, his availability for the remaining season would have included restrictions.
Any Liverpool loan player maintains strong connections to their parent organization through continuous information sharing requirements. The Premier League side typically demands extensive physical and medical data reports, which could potentially redirect the player's attention toward their future club rather than current responsibilities.
Immediately, completing Jacquet's signing on Monday evening would have probably excluded him from Rennes' Tuesday French Cup match against Marseille. The 20-year-old was properly available to participate and completed the entire 90-minute contest.
Will Jacquet Be Worth the Wait?
Will Jacquet Be Worth the Wait?
"A defender who remains composed with possession," was Jacquet's self-assessment as a player, which aligns with expectations for a young talent who developed as a midfielder while admiring Paul Pogba. "I may occasionally appear somewhat relaxed—I've received that feedback before—but I maintain sharp focus and strive to evaluate situations effectively.
"Additionally, a significant aspect of my play involves distributing the ball effectively, identifying the proper pass and penetrating defensive lines."
Jacquet has impressed in Ligue 1 through this composed penetration, consistently contributing to Rennes' most dangerous long-range passing combinations. However, he remains early in his professional journey and the transfer amount—ranking him as the eighth-most expensive defender historically—has drawn criticism from certain quarters.
World Cup champion Christophe Duggary criticized the agreement as "absurd," labeling Liverpool as "naive" for paying substantially more for a promising player who remains far from establishing any semblance of a proven record.