Liverpool Secure Jeremy Jacquet As Deadline Day Drama Unfolds

It’s that electric time of year again—transfer deadline day is in full swing, and the Premier League is abuzz with dramatic moves, last-minute negotiations, and a flurry of speculation. As the clock ticks toward the 7 p.m. GMT cutoff, clubs across Europe are racing to finalize their squads for the remainder of the season. Let’s dive into the biggest headlines and surprise moves shaping the football landscape on February 2, 2026.

Arguably the most eye-catching development of the day involves Liverpool and Rennes’ highly rated centre-back, Jeremy Jacquet. The Merseyside giants have agreed a £60 million deal for the 22-year-old Frenchman, penning him to a five-and-a-half-year contract. However, there’s a twist—Jacquet won’t be donning the famous red shirt just yet. Despite the agreement, he will not join Liverpool in the current transfer window. The anticipation around Anfield is palpable, with fans eager to see what the future holds for this defensive prospect.

Jacquet’s transfer saga took another turn when a former Premier League striker revealed on Sky Sports, “I’m surprised because three or four days ago the young man [Jeremy Jacquet] and his representatives said he wanted to go to Chelsea and they want it to happen in this window.” The striker went on to note the Blues’ crowded defensive ranks, adding, “Chelsea have about nine centre-halves, so if they were really short they might have bid for him and put more money in.” With Chelsea apparently not making a formal approach, Liverpool swooped in to secure Jacquet’s signature—just not for immediate impact.

This revelation comes as Chelsea themselves have had an unusually quiet transfer window. With less than eight hours to go until the deadline, the Blues had yet to sign anyone, a stark contrast to their usual headline-grabbing business. The only significant movement at Stamford Bridge has been outgoing: Tyrique George, a promising 19-year-old winger, has been given permission to travel for a medical ahead of an initial loan move to Everton, which includes an option to buy. The move is timely for Everton, who are coping with the loss of Jack Grealish to a season-ending stress fracture.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, the action is just as frantic. Leeds United are pushing hard to land Armenia’s national team captain, Eduard Spertsyan. The 25-year-old midfielder, named Russian Player of the Year, has been a standout at FC Krasnodar with eight goals and twelve assists this campaign. Leeds manager Daniel Farke knows Spertsyan’s abilities well, having been appointed Krasnodar boss in 2022 (though he never took charge due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine). The deal is complicated, but Spertsyan is reportedly eager for a Premier League switch.

Wolves have also been in the thick of negotiations. The club accepted a £48 million bid from Crystal Palace for Norwegian striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who is set to fill the boots of Jean-Philippe Mateta—himself undergoing medical tests ahead of a move to Milan. Strand Larsen, known for his physical presence and box instincts, is expected to add a new dimension to Palace’s attack. Palace fans will be wondering if he can replicate or even surpass Mateta’s 22 Premier League goals since the start of last season.

On the defensive side, Wolves have been in talks with Turkish giants Besiktas over the transfer of Emmanuel Agbadou. The Turkish window remains open until February 6, giving Besiktas a bit more time to match Wolves’ £15 million valuation for the Ivory Coast international. Meanwhile, Wolves are close to sealing a £7 million (plus £2 million in add-ons) move for Southampton striker Adam Armstrong, who is currently undergoing his medical. Armstrong reportedly turned down other offers to chase his Premier League dream at Molineux, a move seen as a boost for both player and club as Wolves battle to stay up.

Arsenal have also made headlines by opening talks with Hearts for a loan deal involving 18-year-old striker James Wilson. Wilson recently made history by becoming the youngest man to play for Scotland at 18 years and 17 days, surpassing a record that stood for 138 years. With Mikel Merino sidelined by a suspected broken bone in his foot, Arsenal may need to bolster their attacking options quickly—though a deal for Wilson is not yet finalized.

Manchester City, for their part, have recalled 19-year-old midfielder Sverre Nypan from his loan at Middlesbrough, handing him the No. 41 shirt and signaling their intent to integrate him further into the first-team setup. City’s transfer activity has been relatively subdued, with early signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi placing them atop the Premier League’s January spending table.

Other notable moves include Aston Villa’s Ben Broggio traveling to Scotland for a medical ahead of a loan to Falkirk, and Brighton’s Brajan Gruda joining RB Leipzig on loan until the end of the season. Newcastle United’s long-serving captain Jamaal Lascelles is on the verge of joining Leicester City after more than a decade at St. James’ Park, a move prompted by limited playing time and a string of injuries.

Meanwhile, Fulham’s pursuit of U.S. international Ricardo Pepi has been put on ice, with the striker set to remain at PSV for now. Fulham are expected to revisit their interest in the summer window after failing to bridge the valuation gap during this deadline period.

As the transfer window slams shut across Europe, clubs will still be able to sign unattached players as free agents. But for most, today marks the last chance to reshape their squads until the summer. With medicals ongoing, paperwork flying, and fans glued to every update, it’s clear that deadline day still holds its magic. The big deals may be nearly done, but as always, the final hours could still bring a few surprises before the window officially closes.

With the dust yet to fully settle and several moves still awaiting confirmation, all eyes remain on the Premier League’s war rooms as deadline day drama reaches its fever pitch. One thing’s for certain—football never sleeps, and neither do its transfer rumors.