Rennes head coach Habib Beye has made a public plea for the French club to turn down any offer from Chelsea for highly-rated defender Jeremy Jacquet this month.
Stalemate Over Valuation
The Blues, keen to strengthen their defence before the transfer deadline, have identified the 20-year-old centre-back as a primary target after scouting him for several months. Chelsea have now agreed personal terms with Jacquet, who is eager to secure a move to Stamford Bridge.
However, a significant obstacle remains. Rennes are holding out for a fee in the region of £56million, while Chelsea's hierarchy are reportedly reluctant to pay more than £50m for the France Under-21 international. Negotiations are currently at an impasse over this valuation.
Beye's Firm Stance on Keeping His Star
Speaking after Rennes' 1-1 Ligue 1 draw with Le Havre, a match Jacquet missed through suspension, Beye was unequivocal about the player's importance. "I believe that today he is a very important player for our objectives," the manager stated. "If tomorrow we were to let him go, we would have to lower our expectations."
Beye admitted that interest from a club of Chelsea's stature creates uncertainty but remained firm. "I’m very firm on this situation. He is an essential player for us," he said, calling on the club to "resist" all approaches.
An Argument for Patience
The former Newcastle and Aston Villa defender argued that it would be beneficial for all parties, including Chelsea, if Jacquet remained in Brittany to continue his development. Beye highlighted the rapid progress the youngster has made, which has now attracted Europe's elite clubs.
"In five months, he’ll be even more accomplished, and so, [if he stays] it can be beneficial for everyone, for the club, for Jeremy, and for the club that might come looking for him," Beye reasoned, while conceding that factors beyond his control could dictate the outcome in the coming days.
Jacquet, who only broke into professional football last season and was linked with Arsenal last summer, is under contract with Rennes until June 2029.
Chelsea's Cautious Transfer Approach
The news comes as Chelsea's newly appointed manager, Liam Rosenior, emphasised a patient approach to the January market. Ahead of the win over Brentford, Rosenior stressed the club would only move for the "right player."
"I think if we do, it needs to be the right player. We need to be patient," he said, adding that he is in daily conversations with the board about potential ins and outs but is focused on assessing his current squad.
