Chelsea Edge Bayern in Race for Jacquet as Acheampong Attracts Bavarian Interest

Chelsea appear well-placed to pip Bayern Munich in the scramble to land Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, though the Ligue 1 side are digging in their heels over a mid-season departure.

The Blues have identified the £43m-rated centre-back as a priority signing this window, with Liam Rosenior's squad notably thin on the ground in defensive, goalkeeping, and striking departments. While the club harboured plans to wait until summer for reinforcements, they've shifted focus to addressing their backline immediately.

Liverpool have also circled Jacquet, but it's Bayern and Chelsea driving the most serious interest. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano indicated movement remains possible before the deadline, despite Rennes' reluctance. "The race for Jeremy Jacquet is now open. Chelsea really want the player and are pushing to move now," Romano stated on his YouTube channel.

The comparison to Chelsea's January 2023 swoop for Enzo Fernandez is instructive. Benfica had resisted an off-season exit, yet Chelsea's aggressive pursuit and deadline-day cash injection got the deal done. This situation mirrors that scenario, though Romano cautioned that the financial hurdle would be steep. "It would take crazy money to make it happen in this window," he explained. "Rennes insist that the player should leave in the summer, not now, as they want to keep him for the rest of the season."

Bayern's hesitation appears to be a decisive factor. German journalist Christian Falk revealed that the Bavarians aren't actively negotiating for Jacquet and are content to wait. "Bayern Munich are not a big competitor for Jérémy Jacquet's signature," Falk wrote. "They know him, and he has a market for the summer, but Bayern are not, at the moment, involved in negotiations."

Falk's valuation sits at roughly €50m (£43.3m), with Bayern preferring to conserve resources. "Bayern are still waiting and won't invest now in the Rennes star. So, I think there's a pretty good chance for Chelsea," he added.

The plot thickens on the outgoings front, however. Bayern have trained their attention on Chelsea's own teenage centre-back Josh Acheampong, the 19-year-old prospect catching the eye of the Allianz Arena hierarchy.

"The Chelsea centre-back fits the kind of profile the Bavarians are looking for," Falk explained. "He's 19 years old, he's not so expensive, and has genuine quality for the future."

Bayern's recruitment strategy centres on developing younger talent rather than immediate first-team contributions. With Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan anchoring their defence, the Germans see Acheampong as a long-term prospect. Falk revealed that Bayern monitored the teenager last summer before circling back, though their interest remains contingent on Upamecano's future plans.