ANALYTICAL EDGE: WHY PABLO BARRIOS’ DRIBBLING AND DEFENDING SUIT SLOT'S PREMIER LEAGUE NEEDS.
Liverpool is closely monitoring Atletico Madrid's Pablo Barrios, a highly technical midfielder similar to Zubimendi, but must outmanoeuvre fierce transfer rivals Chelsea for his signature.
Arne Slot said he liked the player's skill with the ball and his understanding of the game. He thought that because Liverpool usually has the ball a lot, someone good at keeping possession in front of the defence would be an asset. He also noted his defensive strengths, which fit the needs of the league.
While Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister aren't the only issues for Liverpool this season, a change in midfield could help. Atletico Madrid's Pablo Barrios, similar to Zubimendi, might be a good fit if Liverpool can sign him before Chelsea.
Barrios could boost both Liverpool's defence and attack. Atletico Madrid has a history of solid midfielders, but Barrios stands out with his technical skills. He's a strong tackler with good timing. His stats look a lot like Zubimendi's, and he shows qualities similar to what made Ryan Gravenberch valuable last season.
Even though he's young, Barrios is confident with the ball, ranking high among European midfielders for successful dribbles. If he can bring that skill to the Premier League, he'd outdo players like Jack Grealish in that area. Playing over 100 games for Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone before turning 22 shows he has great potential. He's also won an Olympic gold medal and played for Spain's national team.
Barrios has the defensive skills to reinforce Liverpool and the attacking ability to aid Slot's team. The question is, can Liverpool sign him before Chelsea?
Chelsea is also interested in Barrios, willing to pay a high price. As seen in the summer, Chelsea can be convincing in the transfer market, signing players that other clubs also wanted.
Liverpool learned about Chelsea's influence when Joao Pedro chose them over Liverpool. Chelsea also acquired Arsenal's Jamie Gittens and Manchester United's Liam Delap.
However, getting into Chelsea's midfield might be tough. They already have strong players like Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, and Reece James has also played well in that position.
Other players like Andrey Santos and Romeo Lavia are also in the mix. Plus, Dario Essugo is expected to recover soon from his injury.
Curtis Jones hasn't been at his best this season. Wataru Endo hasn't kept up his initial good form, and Stefan Bajcetic hasn't been playing much.
Despite Liverpool's spending last summer, they also made a lot from player sales, exceeding even the year when Philippe Coutinho left. While Chelsea's spending was balanced, Liverpool's higher income means they have more financial capability in the transfer market.
So, even though Liverpool needs to strengthen other positions, the midfield should also be a priority. Barrios has the talent and possibility to help turn Liverpool around.
WHY DID JEREMY JACQUET SNUB CHELSEA FOR LIVERPOOL? THE SECRET VIRGIL CONNECTION
Liverpool secure Jeremy Jacquet in a £60m Deadline Day coup. The 20-year-old chose Anfield over Chelsea for a summer move.
Liverpool turned heads on Transfer Deadline Day when Arne Slot jumped into the mix and snapped up one of Europe’s brightest young talents.
The Reds dropped £55 million up front—plus another potential £5 million in add-ons—to bring in Jeremy Jacquet. He’ll link up with his new teammates this summer. Chelsea hovered around the deal too, but Jacquet chose Liverpool over the Blues.
French football pundit Julian Laurens isn’t shy about his excitement. He told Sky Sports, “He’s the real deal. Sure, he’s only 20. He hasn’t played for France yet, and you won’t find him in the Champions League or Europa League. But he’s already shown so much. Last season, Rennes brought him back from a second division loan, and this year, playing under Habib Beye, he’s just kept improving. You can’t miss with this kid. He’s going to be special.
“He reminds me of when William Saliba broke through at Saint-Etienne, or even Wesley Fofana. The point is, if you really value untapped talent, you’re willing to pay big. And Liverpool just did—because Jacquet’s that promising.”
Jacquet grew up in Bondy, the same Paris suburb that produced Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba, and Randal Kolo Muani. It’s up in Seine-Saint-Denis, northeast of central Paris.
His football education, though, happened at Rennes out in Brittany. He came up through their academy, playing alongside guys like Desire Doue—who won the Champions League with PSG—and Tottenham’s Mathys Tel.
Back then, Jacquet idolised Paul Pogba, but once they moved him to centre-back, he started looking up to Virgil van Dijk.
He made his first-team debut for Rennes in January 2024, then went on loan to Clermont Foot 63, who were fighting relegation in Ligue 1. Even after they went down, Rennes kept him out on loan because he did so well with the French U19 squad.
But in February 2025, Rennes called him back, and he’s been a regular for Habib Beye ever since.
Asked about his playing style, Jacquet said, “I’m calm on the ball—maybe I look a little nonchalant, but I’m always focused. What makes me stand out is playing out from the back and breaking lines with the right pass.”
JEREMY JACQUET UPDATE: FABRIZIO ROMANO CONFIRMS LIVERPOOL INTEREST BUT RENNES DEMAND CLUB-RECORD FEE
Liverpool is battling Chelsea and Bayern Munich for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet as Arne Slot faces a mounting injury crisis.
Liverpool really wants to sign Jeremy Jacquet this month, but with Chelsea, Man United, and Arsenal also circling, it looks like they’ll have to wait until summer.
They just locked in a spot in the Champions League last 16 after cruising past Qarabag FK, so things are looking good on that front. This season, they’ve already faced a couple of those big clubs—snatching a last-gasp win over Atletico thanks to Van Dijk’s 92nd-minute header, but coming up short with a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in Turkey.
On Wednesday, Ryan Gravenberch ended up playing centre-back because Joe Gomez is out injured, and Ibrahima Konate is still away after his father passed away. They're really stretched at the back, especially with Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni both dealing with long-term injuries. The club decided not to go after Marc Guehi this month, which let Manchester City snap him up for under £30 million.
Now, Liverpool is eyeing Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet. L’Equipe reported in January that Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, and Liverpool all want him. Fabrizio Romano gave an update, saying Liverpool would love to get the deal done now, but Rennes just don’t want to sell until summer. So, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Bayern are all talking to Rennes and Jacquet’s people, but for now, it’s a waiting game.
With all these injuries piling up, people are wondering if Liverpool might try to bring in someone before the window closes. Arne Slot responded, saying the club always tries to make smart decisions, thinking about both the short and long term. That’s why they focus on signing young talent who can still develop—sometimes you just have to be patient and trust the process.
He pointed out that Liverpool doesn’t have a massive squad packed with four right-backs, a dozen midfielders, or a handful of strikers. They need to be clever about their moves, balancing immediate needs with future plans.
As for the latest on injuries, Slot said they’ll see how Jeremie Frimpong is doing—maybe he won’t be fit for Saturday, but he could be ready soon after. With just one game a week coming up, injuries should ease up a bit, but you never know with football.