Chelsea close in on £56m deal ahead of Arsenal with tempting new offer

Chelsea have moved first to beat Arsenal to the punch (Picture: Visionhaus)

Chelsea are ready to let Jeremy Jacquet return to Rennes on loan for the remainder of the season to help get a deal for the French star over the line.

Jacquet, 20, is regarded as one of the most promising young defenders in Europe with Arsenal also credited with firm interest. Manchester United are also admirers of the centre-half.

Chelsea however have made the first move and have agreed personal terms with the France Under-21 international with Liam Rosenior eager to strengthen his defensive options at Stamford Bridge for the second-half of the season.

While the player is ready to make the move, the Blues are still to agree a fee with Rennes. Jacquet signed a contract extension in May but did so with the agreement that he would be sold should a suitable offer arrive.

Chelsea are prepared to pay €50million (£43.6m) to get the deal done this month with Rennes looking for at least £56million.

To end the impasse, RMC Sport report the Premier League side are prepared to immediately loan Jacquet back to the Ligue 1 side for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Clubs are limited to loaning out a maximum of six players at any one time with all Chelsea’s slots filled out as of last week. However, the club have since recalled David Datro Fofana from his loan spell at Turkish outfit Fatih Karagümrük with the intention of selling him on a permanent basis.

Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet in Chelsea’s sights (Picture: Getty Images)

Cashing in on Fofana will enable Chelsea to sign Jacquet and immediately send him back to Rennes.

The arrangement may appease all parties with Rennes boss Habib Beye desperate to keep hold of the youngster.

‘I believe that today he is a very important player for our objectives,’ Beye said at the weekend. ‘If tomorrow we were to let him go, we would have to lower our expectations.

Jacquet has agreed terms with Chelsea (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

‘When you have offers from such a club, it can make things a little hesitant.

‘I’m very firm on this situation. He is an essential player for us.’

Chelsea’s current options at the back have been unconvincing this season with the Blues greatly feeling the absence of Levi Colwill , who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in August.