Florian Wirtz was brought in for £116m last summer but struggled to meet expectations under Slot, who may not have fully utilised the kind of player FSG signed. The German midfielder is now expected to shine for his country at the World Cup, giving him a bigger stage to display the quality Liverpool did not fully unlock.
Hugo Ekitike, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m, endured a cruel setback after suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury, despite having been among the standout performers of the season beforehand.
Alexander Isak faced a similar misfortune, breaking his leg in a clash against Spurs in late December. His £125m transfer fee remains Liverpool’s record signing by a significant margin of around £50m, and he is anticipated to return next season fully fit, having already shown promise with a fine goal in a pre-World Cup friendly for Sweden.
Meanwhile, highly rated defender Jacquet is seen as a major investment for the future, with Liverpool paying a substantial fee for the teenage talent. The 19-year-old impressed scouts in France with his displays for Rennes and is regarded as one of the top U21 centre-backs in Europe, alongside Giovanni Leoni.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast in April, Dominic King highlighted Liverpool’s strong belief in Jacquet ahead of his move to the AXA Training Centre.
He said: “Liverpool need hungry players as part of a regeneration phase. They signed Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes as a young, developing player with a strong desire to succeed.
“They view the deal as a major coup, especially with several clubs across Europe—particularly Chelsea—also interested.
“But he was convinced by Liverpool’s development pathway. That’s the kind of profile they are targeting going forward.”
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