Who is Jeremy Jacquet? Arsenal plot bargain transfer for the 'new William Saliba'

Jeremy Jacquet has recently emerged as a potential target for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta looks to further bolster his backline. The Gunners have already forked out well over £200m on new players this summer, but Andrea Berta has shown no sign of slowing down.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are interested in signing the 20-year-old defender from Stade Rennais. The report claims that the north Londoners have made 'initial contact' with the French outfit as they brace themselves for departures.

It's said that Berta has shortlisted Jacquet as an option, with Oleksandr Zinchenko or Jakub Kiwior facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium. Romano adds that Stade Rennais don't want to sell the France Under-21 international, so an approach could be shelved until next year.

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So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up everything you need to know about Jacquet and a potential transfer to Arsenal.

Who is Jacquet?

Jacquet enjoyed a promising debut season in the French top-flight last term, establishing himself as a regular in Habib Beye's side. The Frenchman spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Clermont Foot 63 in Ligue 2, keeping three clean sheets in 17 games.

Jacquet, whose contract at Roazhon Park expires in June 2029, was recalled by Stade Rennais in January, and he hit the ground running. The youngster won three of his first four games in the French outfit's backline, beating Saint-Étienne, Stade Reims and Montpellier.

In March, he was rewarded for his efforts in Ligue 1 with a call-up to the France Under-21s. Jacquet, who had previously captained the Under-20s, made his debut off the bench in a 5-3 friendly win over England before making his first start against Slovakia.

The Arsenal target, who stands at 6'2", started 11 of Stade Rennais' final 14 games of the season. Eager to hold onto their prised asset, Jacquet signed a new long-term contract with the French outfit.

Why do Arsenal want to sign Jacquet?

Despite having already signed Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia this summer, Arteta seems determined to further bolster his backline. With Kiwior facing an uncertain future and Gabriel Magalhães nursing an injury, Jacquet has emerged as a potential target.

Interestingly, the youngster played at right-back during Stade Rennais' penultimate game of the Ligue 1 season. Jacquet hasn't necessarily featured there much in the past, but perhaps Arteta or Berta saw something that they liked.

How much will Jacquet cost Arsenal?

According to Transfermarkt, Jacquet is currently worth about €10m (£8.7m) in today's economy. However, the right-footed centre-half recently signed a new long-term contract at Roazhon Park, so it's likely that Stade Rennais would demand a much greater fee if they choose to cash in.

What has been said about Jacquet?

After penning a new deal at Stade Rennais in May, Loic Desire heaped great praise on Jacquet. Speaking to the club's official website, the French outfit's sporting director said: "Jeremy perfectly embodies the club’s desire to build its project around Rennes’ training.

"He was present at the Gambardella final this weekend, proof of his attachment to the Rouge et Noir academy. He has great qualities, particularly athleticism, and exudes a great deal of confidence and strength for his age. We hope that he will go very far and continue to progress with Rennes."

Meanwhile, Jacquet said: "I’m very happy to be extending my contract with my club. The season went by very quickly, I played quickly after my return from loan in the winter and I think I played some good games. The aim now is to get back to work and achieve better results next season."

Not much else has been said about Jacquet, although the Evening Standard have branded him as the 'new Willian Saliba'. Jacquet has been described as: "aggressive, proactive, and unafraid to push high up the pitch to challenge attackers."