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LIVERPOOL ENTER "BIDDING WAR" WITH REAL MADRID FOR €75M STAR KEES SMIT

Liverpool lead Real Madrid in the race for AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit, with the "explosive" midfielder valued at up to €75 million.

Liverpool enter "bidding war" with Real Madrid for €75m star Kees Smit
Liverpool "favourites" to beat Real Madrid for AZ Alkmaar's explosive Kees Smit

Liverpool is now locked in a race with Real Madrid to sign a “very explosive” young star, and honestly, they’ve got a pretty big edge over the Spanish giants.

After splashing the cash last summer, January turned out to be pretty quiet for the Reds. They only brought in Jeremy Jacquet at centre-back, but the Frenchman isn’t joining up with the squad until the summer.

Arne Slot’s team hasn’t lived up to expectations this season. They’re sitting in sixth, and with Champions League qualification still up in the air, there’s a sense of uncertainty around Anfield. Even so, Richard Hughes remains confident that the recent signings will prove their worth.

“All these players are here for a very good reason—they’re top quality,” Hughes said. “Everyone played a part in getting them here, and we were all happy with our work in the summer, not just me. If you get the right players, and we’re convinced every time we bring someone in, the performances will come.”

Maybe that’s why Liverpool kept things low-key this winter. But they’re still hunting for reinforcements and now find themselves up against Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Arsenal for AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit.

The financial muscle of the Premier League gives Liverpool an advantage over Madrid in this race for the Dutch midfielder.

Bence Bocsak, a journalist who’s watched Smit closely, called him a “fantastic signing” for Liverpool. “He’s exactly the kind of midfielder who would thrive in a ball-dominant team because he’s so progressive on the ball. He’s also very explosive—he can accelerate and change direction from a standstill, which is rare and seriously underrated.”

Smit, born in Heiloo, has been crucial for AZ Alkmaar this season. He’s got two goals and two assists in 18 Eredivisie games, plus he’s averaging 1.6 key passes per match—the third-best in the squad.

So, Smit would be an exciting addition to Slot’s team this summer. Still, there’s another option: Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, who’s already proven himself in the Premier League and apparently wants to join Liverpool. That move might feel a little less risky.

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.

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Liverpool scouted Jeremy Jacquet in secret before the huge £60m bid

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.

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Liverpool is in advanced talks for Jeremy Jacquet, but Rennes hold out for the summer

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.

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