Liverpool has high hopes for Jeremy Jacquet, investing £60m to bring the young central defender to Anfield this summer. Although an injury disrupted his pre-season, the Frenchman appears worth the wait.

Originally signed as an understudy to the established centre-back duo of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, Jacquet is now poised to fill the gap left by Konate's departure. Joe Gomez was expected to partner Van Dijk for Liverpool's Premier League opener against Newcastle United on August 23, but another injury setback has sidelined him.

With Giovanni Leoni, a 19-year-old defender recovering from an ACL injury, Jacquet might be called upon sooner than expected. His own shoulder issue has kept him out since February, delaying his planned debut against Leeds United.

Jacquet, who turned down interest from Chelsea and Bayern Munich, is now set to start under a new head coach, Andoni Iraola. Liverpool's defensive struggles last season saw them concede 53 goals, the highest in a Premier League season for the club.

Despite having fewer than 100 senior appearances, Jacquet's potential is well recognized. He came through Rennes' academy and became their record sale, surpassing even the likes of Ousmane Dembele. His impressive passing accuracy and aerial prowess make him a promising addition to the team.

Football experts like Kevin Hatchard and Julien Laurens have praised Jacquet, highlighting his leadership qualities and ability on the ball. If he can replicate the success of other young defenders like William Saliba and Wesley Fofana, Liverpool may have found a worthy successor to Van Dijk.