Romano’s overnight update (shared via X and reported across outlets like Chelsea.news and CaughtOffside on January 19-20, 2026) reiterated that Chelsea have already agreed personal terms with the 20-year-old France U21 international—contract ready, player keen, and fully committed to the move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea officials even travelled to France last week for face-to-face talks, underscoring their intent to land him as the club’s clear No.1 defensive target under Liam Rosenior.
However, the sticking point remains the fee: Rennes are holding firm on a club-record demand of €65-70 million (around £56-60m), surpassing their previous high from Jérémy Doku’s €60m sale to Manchester City in 2023. They view Jacquet as one of the world’s best young defenders and are in no rush to sell mid-season, especially with the club performing well in Ligue 1 under manager Habib Beye. Chelsea’s current bid falls short of that figure, leading Romano to describe the talks as “not easy” and “ongoing,” with new contacts this week aimed at bridging the gap on price and structure—but no breakthrough yet.
This scenario has triggered painful memories for Blues fans in Lagos and beyond, echoing past high-profile pursuits that dragged on or collapsed due to fee disputes. Most notably, it mirrors last summer’s failed late-window chase for Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace (agreed personal terms, but Palace pulled out over replacement concerns, leading to a £35m deal falling through). Chelsea were left empty-handed then, forcing them to rely on existing options amid defensive inconsistencies that have persisted into 2026 (e.g., injuries to Levi Colwill and others, set-piece vulnerabilities exposed in recent games).
The public nature of these updates—Romano’s frequent “talks ongoing” and “mission to France” posts—has amplified frustration, with supporters on X and forums venting about “déjà vu” and questioning why the club hasn’t pushed harder or explored alternatives more aggressively. Some see Rennes’ stance as leverage play, knowing Jacquet wants Chelsea and personal terms are secured, but others worry the Blues’ financial prudence (balancing PSR, wage bill, and other priorities like potential Enzo Fernández sales) could see another prime target slip away.
Romano emphasized Chelsea remain committed to signing a defender this window, with Jacquet topping a shortlist of three (others include Como’s Jacobo Ramón and possibly Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi, though the latter faces resistance). Direct club-to-club dialogue continues, but with less than two weeks left, time is tight. If no agreement is reached, the move could drag into summer—when Rennes’ position might soften or competition (Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Liverpool) intensifies—or force Chelsea toward a less preferred option.
Rosenior’s side has shown resilience recently (e.g., 2-0 win over Brentford with a clean sheet), but bolstering the backline remains urgent for domestic consistency, cup progress (Carabao Cup semi-final return vs Arsenal), and Champions League ambitions. Fans hope this isn’t another case of “so close, yet so far,” but Romano’s latest leaves the door open to either a late breakthrough or more prolonged agony. The window’s final days will tell.
