As the summer transfer window formally opens, £60m incoming centre-back Jeremy Jacquet has admitted that his massive price tag adds pressure to his impending arrival.
The 20-year-old French defender signed a pre-agreement from Rennes earlier this year, making him the second most expensive defender in Liverpool’s history behind Virgil van Dijk.
Jacquet, who missed the tail end of the French season with a shoulder injury, spoke candidly today about the expectations awaiting him on Merseyside.
“The club’s history weighed heavily on my decision but so did the project they offered me,” he admitted. “Promising young players command quite high prices and of course, that adds pressure.
“Am I worth that price or not? I think I have the minimum resources to go there. I’m going there to play as much as possible.”
“At Liverpool, apart from the fact that Virgil van Dijk is nearing the end of his career, training with him is going to be huge.
“He’s going to teach me so much. There’s also Ibou Konate, who can help me settle in. Training with guys like that, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
His quick integration is paramount for Slot because Ibrahima Konate has still not signed a new contract extension despite weeks of optimistic rumours, and Joe Gomez is entering the final year of his deal amidst heavy interest from Aston Villa.
With young defender Geovanni Leoni also working his way back from a long-term ACL injury, Jacquet will be expected to anchor the new-look backline from day one.
