Chelsea turn green with envy as £60m 'monster' twists the knife after transfer hijack

Chelsea were pipped to the post for a £60million sensation, who has since gone on to make a huge splash in the Premier League and on the international stage

Chelsea may find themselves incredibly envious of Liverpool's ability to beat them to Jeremy Jacquet's services, given just how much the Frenchman has thrived for club and country.

The Blues were linked with the centre-half during the winter window, given how he had excelled with Rennes at a young age.

However, Liverpool ultimately hijacked the move, agreeing a pre-contract with the 21-year-old as the window slammed shut in February.

The Bondy-born talent then completed a £60million move to Anfield in the summer, before making his debut in the club's Premier League opener against Newcastle United in late August.

In the months since, Jacquet has not only proven that he can thrive in the English top flight - starting every match for them - but has also made waves as a part of Zinedine Zidane's France set-up in the Nations League.

French media labelled the youngster a 'monster' in the aftermath of the nation's 1-1 draw with Italy on Friday evening, a match in which Jacquet played the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time, having impressed against Belgium on Monday.

Real Madrid icon Zidane, who is well placed to judge, having enjoyed a brilliant playing career and managed some of the best talent around, was also full of praise for the defender. He told the media: "Very good. Very, very good.

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"Brave. He wasn’t afraid to come out a long way. Very good in the duels. He was, once again, very good. I said it four times."

Reflecting on his breakthrough into the French first-team, Jacquet also said: "I’m quite happy. I don’t feel any pressure. I’m just playing my football."

Considering Xabi Alonso's side could do with tightening up at the back at present, Chelsea are well within their right to be jealous at the fact that Jacquet chose Liverpool instead of them. The defender's seamless transition to the Premier League and recent performances for France only serve to rub salt in those wounds.

It's perhaps made even more painful by their mixed bag start to the season, particularly with issues at the back. The Blues were tipped for a title tilt this season but are currently well off the pace in 10th after five games, with a record of two wins, two losses and a draw.

A leaking backline has been evident regardless of the result for Alonso's men, with a glass-cannon-like approach visible to all.

While Alonso will welcome the club's 3-2 win over Fulham on opening day, as well as a 4-3 victory over Brighton in the following match, the Spaniard has the right to be concerned at the prospect of shipping five goals in those encounters.

In the Premier League, the Blues have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their outings so far, which could prove particularly troubling when they come up against more clinical sides.

Considering Jacquet's form for club and country, the Frenchman could have played a major part in nullifying the attacking threat, but Chelsea will instead have to wait until the January window to make further tweaks to their first-team.

Bayer Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah has emerged as a decent option, given his Premier League experience and his strong form since last summer's move from Liverpool.

However, given the Blues failed to find a suitable replacement for Enzo Fernandez on deadline day - due to a deal for Monaco's Lamine Camara falling through at the 11th hour - Alonso may instead prioritise reinforcement that his midfield desperately needs.

Chelsea may yet go back in for Camara, with several other targets such as Manu Kone, Adam Wharton and Lucas Da Cunha also in the crosshairs. Whoever Chelsea picks as their No 1 target, they'd better pull the trigger and get the deal over the line, or risk feeling like another superstar has slipped the net.