Liverpool Find a New Gem at the Back: Jeremy Jacquet, the Ideal Van Dijk Replacement?
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- Liverpool merekrut Jeremy Jacquet dari Rennes senilai £60 juta pada Januari lalu, dan bek muda Prancis itu langsung menunjukkan performa impresif.
- Kehadiran Jacquet membuat Ibrahima Konate yang tampil inkonsisten musim lalu tidak lagi menjadi masalah utama bagi lini pertahanan The Reds.
- Jika konsisten, Jacquet berpotensi menjadi salah satu bek terbaik dunia dan mengulang sukses upgrade Alisson dari Karius pada 2018.
Liverpool are reaping the rewards of their recruitment strategy once again. Young French defender Jeremy Jacquet, signed from Rennes in January 2026 for £60 million, has quickly become a rock at the heart of the Reds' defence. His impressive form in recent matches, including a solid display against Tottenham Hotspur, has convinced the Anfield faithful that they have found the ideal partner for Virgil van Dijk.
The Liverpool management's decision to sign Jacquet was initially questioned given he was only 21 and an injury had disrupted the end of last season at Rennes. But those doubts vanished once the centre-back showed a combination of speed, strength, and tactical intelligence rarely found in players his age. In the match against Tottenham, he played only 45 minutes, but his action in winning a duel against Omar Marmoush was proof of his quality.
Jacquet's presence also answers a problem that has long haunted Liverpool's back line: Ibrahima Konate's inconsistency. The French defender often makes fatal mistakes, especially in big matches. Club legend Jamie Carragher even once labelled Konate's performances as "poor all season" and "making mistakes in every game". The criticism came after Liverpool's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last season, in which Konate performed below standard.
Comparisons with the past have also emerged. Eight years ago, Liverpool had a similar problem in goal with Loris Karius. Karius's mistakes in the 2018 Champions League final forced the management to sign Alisson Becker from AS Roma. That transfer proved to be the turning point in Liverpool's return to glory, as they went on to win the 2019 Champions League and the 2020 Premier League. Now, Jacquet is expected to follow in Alisson's footsteps as a crucial upgrade in defence.
"Jacquet has the potential to become one of the best defenders in the world. Liverpool have hit the jackpot by signing him," said ESPN journalist Julien Laurens.
For Indonesian football fans, Jacquet's success story is a valuable lesson in the importance of long-term planning in player recruitment. Clubs in Liga Indonesia are often tempted to sign senior players at high prices but give young players little room to develop. Yet investing in young talents like Jacquet can deliver a double benefit: short-term performance and future resale value.
Moreover, Liverpool's success in integrating young players into the first team can also inspire the Indonesian national team. With so many talented young players in the domestic league, it is time for clubs and the federation to give them greater opportunities to prove themselves at the highest level. If Jacquet can shine in the Premier League at 21, it is not impossible for Indonesian players to break into European competitions with the right development.
Even so, Jacquet's journey is still long. He needs to maintain consistency and avoid the injuries that have haunted him. Liverpool also still have homework to do in improving the defence as a whole, especially with speculation over Konate's future still unresolved. But at least the Reds can now breathe easy because they have a young defender ready to become Van Dijk's successor in the future.
Will Jacquet truly become the best defender in the world, as Laurens predicts? Or will he be lulled by praise and pressure? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Liverpool have taken a bold step that may be remembered like the decision to sign Alisson eight years ago.
