Liverpool confirm £60m Jacquet signing as Iraola eyes Diomande amid Bajcetic revival

Liverpool have secured their first signing of the summer transfer window, with Jeremy Jacquet set to arrive from Rennes in a £60m deal — though the French midfielder will work under a different manager than the one who sanctioned his move. Arne Slot was dismissed at the end of May, with Andoni Iraola appointed as his successor.

Iraola inherits a squad already undergoing significant change. The departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson — both two-time Premier League title winners — were confirmed during the final weeks of last season, and the new head coach will be expected to reshape the squad accordingly.

One player firmly on Liverpool’s radar is Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old Ivorian winger currently at RB Leipzig. Diomande caught the eye as Côte d’Ivoire opened their World Cup campaign with a win over Ecuador, and he has also attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. RB Leipzig are holding out for a fee in excess of £80m.

Côte d’Ivoire manager Emerse Fae acknowledged the transfer speculation surrounding his player with a degree of amusement. “When we were in France, during the preparation, journalists told me he was about to sign with PSG,” Fae said. “Here, they tell me he’s about to sign with Liverpool! I don’t know, but for now, he will focus on the World Cup, and then afterwards, he can think about the rest of his career. Yan — what can I say? I can’t put it into words. He’s very talented, but beyond the talent, he’s very young and he’ll improve.”

Among those hoping Iraola’s arrival signals a fresh start is Stefan Bajcetic. The Spain Under-21 international did not play a single minute under Slot last season as injury problems persisted, spending time on loan at Red Bull Salzburg and then Las Palmas, where he last featured in May 2025. He has now returned to Anfield for a personalised training programme as he works to rebuild match sharpness.

Bajcetic is entering the final year of his Liverpool contract, making the coming season a pivotal one for the 20-year-old midfielder. Slot had previously noted the challenge of giving Bajcetic minutes in a crowded midfield, suggesting a change of management could prove timely for a player whose Liverpool career has stalled through misfortune rather than a lack of ability.