Liverpool secure generational centre-back duo

Liverpool have secured the signings of Jeremy Jacquet and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, a move hailed as a generational duo for the Reds. The double transfer was orchestrated by Richard Hughes to bolster a squad that has long-awaited defensive depth.

The club pursued the centre-backs to address a long-term need for defensive stability, a priority highlighted by Andoni Iraola as essential for his team's future. Hughes' strategy, shaped during last summer, focused on acquiring players who could become the spine of the side.

Both Jacquet and Ndukwe faced delays – Rennes wanted to retain the 20-year-old Jacquet, while FIFA rules forced Ndukwe to wait until he turned 18 – yet Hughes persisted, viewing the obstacles as worthwhile. The patience paid off, delivering two of the generation's best young centre-backs.

Meanwhile, Liverpool missed out on Ivorian forward Yan Diomande, who appears set to join Paris Saint-Germain, leaving a gap in the hunt for a successor to Mohamed Salah in Europe. If Diomande departs, the club will need another solution to fill the natural right-winger role.

The arrival of Jacquet and Ndukwe means Liverpool secure generational talent before pre-season begins on Monday, with both players already training at the AXA centre. Both will soon be at Anfield, offering Hughes a tangible legacy and the Reds a promising defensive foundation.