Huddersfield Town are reportedly weighing up a move for Ligue 2 side Reims central defender Julian Jeanvier. The last side to get promoted in the Premier League last season looks to continue their brilliant defensive record in the top-flight English football too, with the signing of this 25-year-old who was named the best defender in France’s second-tier football last season.
He has already started garnering attention from clubs around Europe as his side failed to make the cut to Ligue 1 despite maintaining the third best record in the league. Championship side Fulham are also keeping tabs on the player and could give a tough time to the Terriers in landing the player.
David Wagner will surely have a tough task ahead of him next season, but if there is one thing one has learnt from the relegated sides last season, out of which two had just gained promotion the previous term, is that one cannot afford a slow start in the Premier League at any cost.
Having an under average squad to compete with, Wagner’s first plan, which is a usual one, would be to bolster his defence primarily before any other crucial additions. They had conceded just 58 goals last season in the Championship, which helped them finish fifth in the league, but an almost similar number of goals (53) for Middlesbrough were enough to relegate them too.
And returning to the Premier League for the first time in 45 years, Wagner’s first and foremost priority would be to survive it. And Jeanvier could definitely help the boss in achieving it given his defensive attributes. He has been a regular starter for the French side, managing three goals throughout the season.
At 185cm, he could be a real threat from the air in the offence as well as defence in the Premier League. Given his steady rise to stardom in the lower league, he would be a real catch for any club at a cut-price deal this summer. His current club Reims had bought from Ligue 1 side Lille last summer for £425,000, and now with only a year left on his contract, they have to sell him and fast.
Although Fulham definitely have a lure being one of the historical clubs in England, Huddersfield Town’s Premier League stature would definitely have the edge. Jeanvier’s inclusion would also serve the purpose of providing competition to Christopher Schindler, Michael Hefele and club captain Mark Hudson in the centre-half options.
