Jeremy Jacquet: Liverpool branded 'suckers' after hijacking €70m Chelsea transfer

Cameron Smith

• 3 Feb 2026 09:01 CST
• 3 min read

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Former France international Christophe Dugarry has described Liverpool as “suckers” for agreeing a €70 million deal for Stade Rennais defender Jeremy Jacquet.

The 20-year-old looked set to join Chelsea before the end of Transfer Deadline Day, but Liverpool swooped in with a late offer and convinced the player to choose Anfield over Stamford Bridge.

Jacquet will remain at Rennes for the remainder of the 2025-26 season before moving to Liverpool for a fee that could reach €70m if add-on clauses are met.

He is widely expected to replace Ibrahima Konate as Liverpool’s preferred partner alongside Virgil van Dijk next campaign, with Jacquet’s compatriot set to become a free agent when his current deal at Anfield expires at the end of June.

However, while Jacquet has shown immense promise at Rennes, Liverpool have been heavily criticised for their decision to make him their joint-seventh most expensive signing of all time.

Jeremy Jacquet to Liverpool transfer verdict

Speaking to RMC Sport about Jacquet’s Liverpool switch, Duggary said (via Metro): “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. But when you have suckers like that… well done to Rennes.

“Rennes managed to find a sucker like Liverpool that was [willing to pay] €70m.”

He added: “Let them continue, all these English clubs, sending tens of millions of euros. This isn’t just a two-tiered football situation anymore, it’s a football that’s lost its mind.

“Let’s stop trying to pretend there’s a justification for it. There’s no justification whatsoever.

“Poor Jacquet, this transfer is going to put a lot of pressure on him,” Duggary continued. Even him, the poor kid, who is certainly a very good player, is going to arrive with so much pressure.

“His performances will be viewed differently, even though he doesn’t deserve it. Those of us who know football, let’s not try to justify this amount by saying it’s because Liverpool has money or whatever. It’s meaningless!

“I don’t know what’s going on. It’s ridiculous! No, it’s not supply and demand. It’s ridiculous! It’s ridiculous!”

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