'He is just quality, the way he moves' - Ex-scout impressed by Liverpool summer signing
Jeremy Jacquet could be a key man for Liverpool and France for at least another decade.
That is the opinion of experienced former Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 21-year-old, who officially signed for the Reds this summer after a £60million deal was agreed with Rennes, has adapted excellently to the Premier League.
Jacquet excelled again as Liverpool narrowly beat Bournemouth 1-0 on Sunday, keeping a third clean sheet of the season so far.
The defender has played for France at every youth level, and was rewarded for his superb form with his first senior call-up for this international break.
The youngster has been dubbed the next Raphael Varane, and could well be Liverpool's long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
Jeremy Jacquet 'just looks quality'
Jacquet was not a complete unknown - Arsenal had explored a potential move for the centre-back last summer after his initial breakthrough.
The defender joined Rennes in 2019 and after a strong loan with Clermont Foot in Ligue 2, became a key man for the Ligue 1 side.
Liverpool snapped him up just days before he would suffer a significant shoulder injury, keeping him out for the remainder of the season and fuelling concerns over his adaptation to the Premier League.
Yet those questions have been answered immediately. "Van Dijk isn't finished yet," King told Football Insider when asked whether Jacquet could replace him.
"But he [Jacquet] just looks quality. Wow, the way he moves, the way he is. He's got great shape. He just looks a very good central defender.
"If he's going to be a Liverpool defender for the next five or ten years, then £60m is a very good investment. I wouldn't doubt it."
"There was all that talk about Marc Guehi going to Liverpool, and then Man City came in and blew the deal out of the water", he added.
"They went for this kid who nobody really knows about, who played for France at every level. And not only does he look as though he could be a long-term replacement for Liverpool, he looks as though he could be the future of the France defence as well. This kid looks as though he could be half-decent signing."
Jacquet recognised by Premier League
Such has Jacquet's start to life in the Premier League been impressive, he has been rewarded with a nomination for the player of the month award for September.
The Frenchman features alongside Liverpool teammate Alexander Isak as well as Jayden Bogle, Pascal Gross, Antoine Semenyo, Charalampos Kostoulas, Kevin Schade and Mohamed Belloumi.
Liverpool could not have hoped for a better start to the season from the 21-year-old and will now hope he can produce such displays consistently.
That £60m has already begun to look cheap, and it will continue to do so as long as Jacquet continues to thrive.