Liverpool And Chelsea in Talks Over Club Record Deal Ahead of Deadline Day

Chelsea and Liverpool are said to be going head to head in a bid to land a young central defender according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

The January transfer window closes at 7pm on Monday 2 February for Premier League sides, who have little over 24 hours to go to bring in reinforcements for the rest of the season.

Liverpool won the Premier League title at a canter last season in Arne Slot's first campaign in charge at Anfield.

But the Reds appear very unlikely to retain their crown as they currently trail league leaders Arsenal by 14 points, with 14 games of the Premier League campaign remaining.

Liverpool beat Newcastle United 4-1 last night at Anfield after two goals from Hugo Ekitike, as well as strikes from Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate, saw Slot's side come from behind after Anthony Gordon's opener for the Magpies.

Chelsea won the FIFA Club World Cup over the summer and the UEFA Conference League last season, but have made a change in the dugout this campaign.

Enzo Maresca has been replaced by Liam Rosenior and the Stamford Bridge side also came from behind themselves yesterday to beat West Ham United 3-2.

Jarod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville saw the Hammers lead 2-0 at half-time, before goals from Joao Pedro, Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez saw Chelsea complete the turnaround, with Jean-Clair Todibo sent off deep into injury time after being part of a melee.

Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet. (Image: Getty)

Now, Romano reports that both Liverpool and Chelsea are vying for the same player in the form of Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet.

The 20-year-old has come through the youth team ranks at the French side and has made 30 appearances for the club across the past three seasons.

While this signing is not expected to be in January and will instead be for the summer transfer window, Romano revealed that both Liverpool and Chelsea are battling one another for Jacquet's signature.

And the journalist also stated that the transfer fee for the defender could eventually be a new record sale for Rennes, eclipsing the £55m the club received from Manchester City in 2023 for winger Jeremy Doku.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: "Don't forget what I've been telling you every week on the channel. No-one was mentioning this, don't forget that I've been telling you that Liverpool are in conversation for Jeremy Jacquet in a battle with Chelsea

"It's Chelsea against Liverpool, Liverpool against Chelsea. They are battling on every single million, on every single detail of this deal. Talking to Rennes, talking to the player.

"Jeremy Jacquet is a fantastic centre back for the future and for the future at 20-years-old, but the present means summer because Rennes will not sell the player in this window.

"It's now for the summer, it's now for the season 26/27. Liverpool are trying, Chelsea are trying. It's a battle about the project, about the money, about the salary, about the future of the player and the development plan.

"They are trying in every way to convince the player and get the green light. Rennes will get a record sale, so more than the 64 million euros that they received from Manchester City for Jeremy Doku."