Liverpool’s £55m capture of 20-year-old defender Jeremy Jacquet extends a heavy-spending spree that should tighten their defence long-term — punters may favour Liverpool in clean-sheet and under-goals markets next season, though short-term integration risk could offer value backing rivals in early fixtures.
Liverpool’s Jacquet deal: the headline
Liverpool have agreed a £55m (plus up to £5m in add-ons) deal for Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, with the move set to be completed this summer. The 20-year-old will join a club that has already invested heavily in the squad, marking Liverpool’s fourth £50m-plus signing within 12 months following Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.
Why the heavy spending is sustainable — for now
Revenue surge cushions the outlay
Liverpool reported a record turnover of £702m for 2024-25, a leap of 14% that made them the highest-earning English club that season. Strong commercial deals, including a lucrative kit arrangement with Adidas, and substantial Champions League receipts — roughly £84m in prize money last season — have helped fund an injection of transfer and wage spending.
High investment in wages but a healthier ratio
The club’s wage bill topped £400m for the first time in 2024-25 as Liverpool lifted the Premier League title. Even so, wages fell to 60% of revenue, the lowest proportion in six years, because income rose faster than salary costs. That metric gives Liverpool more headroom than headline salary figures might suggest.
Accounting pressures: amortisation and squad cost rules
Amortisation has jumped
Transfer activity raises amortisation — the annual accounting charge that spreads transfer fees across contract lengths. Estimates indicate amortisation costs increased by roughly £56m year-on-year, about a 50% rise from the prior season. Even so, in 2023-24 Liverpool’s amortisation expense was £115m, still lower than many peers.
How new rules alter the calculus
The Premier League will bring in a squad cost ratio (SCR) rule similar to UEFA’s regimes. SCR considers only football-related wages and amortisation. Non-football staff costs, where Liverpool have historically employed large numbers, do not count against SCR, helping the club’s compliance picture relative to pure payroll totals.
Player sales and balance-sheet management
Big sales last summer helped
Liverpool generated nearly £200m from player sales in the summer window, with exits including Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez and others. A late sale of a senior player for £8.4m — despite just a month remaining on his contract — trimmed the wage bill. Those revenues likely make Liverpool’s 2025-26 transfer activity look healthier in accounting terms.
Sale profits and regulatory impact
Under UEFA-style rules, sale profits are averaged over three years for SCR calculations, so last summer’s strong sales will continue to provide regulatory relief over the next two seasons. That smoothing effect helps absorb big transfer outlays like the Jacquet deal.
Where the risk lies
Although Liverpool’s transfer debt has historically been lower than many rivals, it almost certainly rose after recent windows. The club’s improved income and selling strategy have softened the blow, but sustained high wage growth and amortisation increases will need careful management—particularly if on-field form hits revenue streams such as broadcasting.
Contract expiries and future levers
Two of Liverpool’s highest earners have contracts that expire in June 2027. If the club opts to part ways with those players at that point, it would generate significant wage savings, albeit with clear sporting trade-offs.
What it means on the pitch — and for bettors
Jacquet’s arrival is a clear statement of intent to bolster the back line, which should, over time, reduce goals conceded and increase clean-sheet potential.
For punters, that suggests value in backing Liverpool in low-total-goals markets, clean-sheet specials, or defender-focused props as the season progresses.
Conversely, early-season bets on opponents to exploit integration issues could also pay off while the new recruit settles in.
Conclusion
Signing Jeremy Jacquet for a substantial fee fits into a broader Liverpool strategy: deploy record commercial and Champions League income to fund elite signings while offsetting costs through savvy sales.
The financial position appears manageable for now, but continued monitoring of wages, amortisation and on-field returns will determine whether this spending trajectory is sustainable in the medium term.
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