Liverpool’s plan for its next defensive chapter is taking shape just as uncertainty gathers around Virgil van Dijk. The club has presented Jérémy Jacquet, a 20-year-old centre-back signed from Rennes in January, amid reports that AC Milan have made Van Dijk a “dream target.” The juxtaposition is striking: Liverpool have committed to a young defender whose development will take time, while a reported approach for their established captain puts the longer-term shape of the defence in view.
Jacquet’s arrival looks like a succession plan in the making, though Liverpool haven’t confirmed that role publicly. He has signed a five-year contract with an option for another season, a substantial commitment to a player who has yet to make his Liverpool debut. He’s expected to work under new head coach Andoni Iraola during pre-season, where the club can begin judging how his qualities fit its defensive demands. For now, the transfer signals preparation more clearly than it signals a change in the starting line-up.
A January deal, now ready to begin
Liverpool moved for Jacquet after his talks with Chelsea broke down. Chelsea wanted the defender to join immediately; Liverpool accepted that he would remain at Stade Rennais for the rest of the season. That timing helped the clubs complete a reported €63.6 million transfer, while leaving Jacquet at Rennes to finish his campaign before making the move to England.
The wait extended beyond the end of the campaign. Jacquet suffered a serious shoulder injury soon after signing and missed the second half of Rennes’ season. He’s now fit again, giving Liverpool a chance to assess a highly regarded young defender on the pitch rather than through the promise of the transfer. That distinction matters: a long contract and a large fee establish expectations, but neither tells the coaching staff how quickly a player will adapt to a new team.
At his unveiling, Jacquet said Liverpool’s history, playing style and project appealed to him and his family. He described himself as athletic and quick for his height, and said he’s comfortable building from the back and staying composed in possession. Those are useful attributes for a centre-back expected to contribute during the first phase of attacks, though his own description will need to be tested against the pace and pressure of Liverpool’s matches.
He also made clear that learning from Van Dijk is part of the appeal. Jacquet called the Liverpool captain one of the world’s best centre-backs and said he wants to absorb as much as he can from him. He avoided calling Van Dijk an “idol,” but said he looks up to him and sees his experience as a way to improve. A young defender arriving with that kind of reference point may find the daily example valuable, provided the veteran is still there to provide it.
We have completed the signing of defender Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais on a long-term contract, subject to international clearance 👌
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 1, 2026
Milan’s interest puts the succession plan in focus
Whether Jacquet gets to learn alongside Van Dijk is less certain. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that AC Milan have identified the Dutch defender as a major target. That remains a reported interest, rather than evidence that a transfer is close, but it draws attention to the difference between Liverpool’s long-term planning and the immediate question of Van Dijk’s future.
Milan are rebuilding after a poor finish to last season saw them miss out on Champions League qualification. The club has dismissed its sporting leadership and is backing new head coach Ruben Amorim. On Monday, it confirmed a club-record €74 million signing of Paris Saint-Germain striker Gonçalo Ramos. The activity suggests an effort to reshape the squad, though a high-profile signing in attack doesn’t make the separate challenge of persuading Van Dijk any easier.
Van Dijk, who turns 35 next week, is under contract at Liverpool until 2027. He rejected Chelsea last year and renewed at Anfield, making a departure difficult to imagine. Milan reportedly believe a transfer fee could be manageable; persuading the player is the larger obstacle. The contract gives Liverpool a measure of control over the situation, while Van Dijk’s decision to renew provides a recent indication of his commitment to the club.
His long association with Liverpool, Milan’s salary constraints and the club’s absence from next season’s Champions League all weigh against a move. Senior adviser Zlatan Ibrahimović has reportedly requested the signing, while owner Gerry Cardinale is examining whether it can be done. Milan see Van Dijk as an “emotional leader” the team has lacked, but a deal is considered improbable. The interest may be sincere and still amount to little if the conditions on both sides don’t line up.
A younger centre-back may be more attainable. Sporting CP’s Gonçalo Inácio is among the alternatives mentioned. For Liverpool, the immediate focus is Jacquet’s integration; the Milan reports give that investment added context, but Van Dijk’s contract and history at Anfield leave the succession question open. Here’s the thing: signing a promising replacement doesn’t itself settle when a captain’s role will change.
What Jacquet’s arrival means for Liverpool
This is more significant than it looks. Liverpool have secured a defender with years of development ahead of him, but his injury and lack of a second-half run at Rennes leave the club with limited recent evidence of what he can offer in competitive matches. Pre-season will give the coaching staff an initial look; it won’t answer every question about how quickly he can handle the demands of the first team.
If you’re working in this space, the key distinction is between succession planning and succession itself. Jacquet’s contract points to a long-term investment, while Van Dijk remains under contract and Milan’s pursuit is described as improbable. The club can prepare for change without committing to a departure now. And yet, the reported Milan interest makes the timing harder to ignore.
For Jacquet, the first task is straightforward: get fit, settle into the squad and show that his attributes translate on the pitch. For Liverpool, the larger test is managing that transition without placing the weight of Van Dijk’s eventual replacement on a 20-year-old before he has played for the club. The opening chapter is only beginning.