Chelsea have reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign Ligue 1’s up-and-coming talent, who is said to be the second coming of William Saliba.
Maresca: Chelsea need to ‘switch off’ before playing Arsenal
Chelsea could not have asked for a better warm-up ahead of this weekend’s crucial game against Arsenal. The Blues ousted Barcelona as Estevao Willian stole the show in front of Lamine Yamal. Two of the best teenagers in the world went toe-to-toe at Stamford Bridge, and it was the Brazilian who came out on top.
Now, Enzo Maresca’s side have the small problem of hosting the Premier League leaders at home. A win would take Chelsea to within three points of Arsenal and take another step in the title race. On the other hand, a loss would leave them nine points behind their London rivals.
Maresca will be well aware of the importance of Sunday’s game, but told his players to “switch off” in the build-up, telling reporters: “I told the players to completely switch off for the next 48 hours,” he said. “Please take a rest and recover your strength.
“We have Arsenal next Sunday. My message after the game was just to get the energy back. That’s the most important thing at this moment.”
“And then on Friday you start thinking about Arsenal. We need to keep this momentum going, because it’s very good. And it’s much easier to get the energy back once you win the game.”
It’s also worth noting that Chelsea and Arsenal don’t only battle on the pitch. It is also reported that the two clubs could face off in the transfer market, welcoming reinforcements to their defense.
According to recent reports, the Blues have entered the race to sign Stade Rennais defender Jeremy Jacquet in a disappointing blow to Arsenal.
Chelsea enter race to sign Jeremy Jaquet
Caught Offside reports that Chelsea have joined Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig in the race to sign Jack.
The 20-year-old defender is reportedly available for a minimum of €30m (approximately £27m) in 2026, giving the Stamford Bridge side an important opportunity to strengthen their backline at a bargain price.
Jaquet’s rise has been going on for several years and was dubbed by the Standard as the next Saliba when interest from Arsenal surfaced in August. His former development coach at Rennes, Pierre-Emmanuel Bordeaux, went so far as to describe the defender as “the technical leader of his generation”.
League stats per 90 | backgammon | across |
|---|---|---|
minutes | 1,170 | 814 |
progressive path | 3 | 4.44 |
tackle win | 0.92 | 0.56 |
ball collection | 4.46 | 3.89 |
It’s easy to see why he’s being compared to Saliba. Statistically speaking, Jaquet has outperformed Arsenal’s star player in possession so far this season, while also impressing in possession.
It would be a significant move for Chelsea if they not only land the next Saliba, but also a player capable of surpassing Mikel Arteta’s top defenders over the next few years. But with intense competition for Jacket’s signature, the Blues will need to act quickly.
