What happened: Liverpool have finalized the permanent transfer of French centre-back Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for an initial £55m, a deal first agreed back in January. The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract with an option for a sixth, and his fee could climb by a further £5m in add-ons. He remained at Rennes through the end of the campaign under the terms of the winter agreement.

Why it matters: Jacquet arrives as the direct replacement for Ibrahima Konaté, who left on a free transfer when his contract expired and has since joined Real Madrid. His signing is especially timely with fellow centre-back Giovanni Leoni sidelined by a cruciate ligament injury, giving the club much-needed depth at the back. Chelsea had also pursued the young defender before Liverpool secured him in the winter window.

By the numbers: Fee: £55m initial, rising to £60m with add-ons; five-year contract plus one-year option. Jacquet, 20, has been out since February with a dislocated shoulder and is expected to be fit for pre-season. His arrival gives Liverpool four senior centre-backs alongside Leoni, Joe Gomez and captain Virgil van Dijk. The club has also added winger Victor Munoz for £34m and lodged an £86m package for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande.

What to watch: Watch whether Jacquet is fully fit for the start of pre-season following his shoulder recovery, and whether Liverpool's pursuit of Diomande advances alongside their defensive rebuild.

Sources