Journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Chelsea have put Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet at the top of their list. He is their main focus for the rest of the winter transfer window. The West London club are currently looking for a starting-quality central defender. They are seriously interested in the 20-year-old Frenchman, who is under contract at Roazhon Park until 2029.

Jacobs suggests that Chelsea are “cautiously optimistic” about bringing in a new defender. They hope to get a deal done before the market closes on February 2. However, the move will not be cheap. Rennes are reportedly digging their heels in regarding how much the player is worth.

The Ligue 1 side clearly see Jacquet as a top-tier talent. They want to secure a club-record transfer fee for him. Specifically, Rennes executives are holding out for more than €64 million. This would top the amount Manchester City paid for winger Jeremy Doku in 2023.

Chelsea have started talking with the club to see if a deal is actually possible. However, it’s still unclear if the Blues are willing to pay such a high price. The report makes it clear that Chelsea will only pull the trigger if they...