Manchester United have joined the chase for Jeremy Jacquet, with scouting trips logged and a growing sense that the 20-year-old Stade Rennais centre-back will be one of 2026’s headline defensive moves. Arsenal and Crystal Palace are also tracking the Frenchman after his breakthrough run in Ligue 1, while RB Leipzig lurk as a Bundesliga landing spot if the Premier League scramble drags on.
Jacquet has made 12 first-team appearances this season and looks every inch a modern defender: calm in buildup, aggressive in duels and unfazed by the step up. That profile is why United are doing their homework, why Palace see him as a potential long-term successor to Marc Guehi, and why Arsenal’s recruitment team remain engaged even with a stacked central unit.
Jeremy Jacquet Manchester United transfer
The market is moving early. With several clubs plotting summer reshapes at centre-back, the clubs who position now will avoid a bidding war later. United have made first contact via scouting; others will follow quickly.
Manchester United need to future-proof the position. Harry Maguire has been resurgent under Ruben Amorim, but the club must map a succession plan. Jacquet’s appeal lies in his blend of composure and range at just 20, plus the runway to develop inside a back line that is increasingly comfortable defending higher and braver. The attraction is not only what he is, but what he can become across a five-year arc.
The early-stage dossier is straightforward: he has adapted quickly to Ligue 1 intensity, reads pressure well, and shows the temperament to play through it. For a club that wants to reboot its defensive core, those are non-negotiables.
Arsenal are keen as well while Palace look at him as Guehi successor
Arsenal looked at Jacquet in the summer and have kept tabs. The question in North London is fit. With elite options already in place, any incoming centre-back must be good enough to push the level or young enough to grow without immediate guarantees. Jacquet fits the latter category high ceiling, low noise but would need a clear pathway to minutes.
RB Leipzig are also monitoring the situation, a familiar waypoint for French-developed defenders seeking a platform. If Premier League suitors hesitate over immediate role or fee structure, the Bundesliga route remains logical.
Palace’s interest makes obvious sense. With Guehi inside the final year of his deal and a summer decision looming, the club are stress-testing replacements who can anchor the defence for the next cycle. Jacquet’s profile—mobile, front-foot, comfortable building play—mirrors the direction Oliver Glasner wants from his back line. Selhurst Park offers Premier League minutes sooner than most, which is a powerful sales pitch.
For Jacquet, that pathway matters. Regular football at 20 accelerates development far more than a bench role at a super-club, and Palace can offer a defined role from day one.
