Arne Slot hails Jeremy Jacquet as Liverpool plan for life after Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has welcomed the upcoming arrival of a “very big talent” in Jeremy Jacquet as he admitted the club are already thinking about life without captain Virgil van Dijk.

France under-21s defender Jacquet was also linked with Chelsea but will move to Anfield in the summer after Liverpool agreed a deal worth an initial £55 million, with up to £5 million in add-ons, to sign him from Rennes, where he will finish the season.

The deal came after Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi, who instead joined Sunday’s opponents Manchester City, while Ibrahima Konate, one of only two fit senior centre-halves at present alongside Van Dijk, is into the last six months of his contract.

Arne Slot has spoken for the first time on Jeremy Jacquet, who will join the Reds ahead of next season