Arne Slot Praises Jérémy Jacquet as Liverpool Secures Defender

Arne Slot has hailed defender Jérémy Jacquet as a “very big talent” in light of his impending summer transfer to Liverpool.

On deadline day, Slot’s team reached an initial agreement with Rennes for Jacquet, valued at £55 million ($74.6 million). The centre-back is set to join Anfield in July.

Despite attracting interest from several other European clubs, including Chelsea, Liverpool intensified their pursuit of Jacquet last weekend.

“This development is certainly gratifying,” Slot remarked. “He possesses immense talent, and considering his age, we could even say he has more than just talent.

“Furthermore, our interest in him was not unique, which serves as a significant compliment to those working diligently to secure new players.

“Jacquet exemplifies the model we are implementing at this club—acquiring young, highly skilled players, whether they are at the beginning of their careers or have a few years of experience under their belts. These are players who can enhance our performance both in the short term and over the long haul.

“We have signed many such players recently, and as I’ve mentioned before, the future of this club, both in the mid-long term and short term, is looking very promising.”

Currently positioned sixth in the Premier League table, Liverpool aims to strengthen their chances for a top-four finish with a crucial victory over Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.

Reflecting on their previous encounter, where they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, Slot noted, “In that match, we were significantly outplayed, particularly during the first half. This upcoming game will provide us with another opportunity to assess our team’s development.

“We understand the importance of securing a positive result on Sunday, which applies to all teams in the Premier League at this stage of the season—every result carries increasing weight.

“Manchester City is an excellent team, having recently defeated the side we overcame last weekend, even without their key players. This illustrates the formidable nature of City, which remains a constant threat.”

Addressing Liverpool’s injury concerns, Slot commented, “Jeremie [Frimpong] will definitely be unavailable for training this week, so he will not participate this weekend.

“As for Joe [Gomez], we hold out some hope that he may be able to train on Saturday. While he won’t be available to start, he could potentially assist the team if needed, especially considering our limited options among defenders at this time.”