Bayer Leverkusen is in talks with Liverpool to sign Jarell Quansah, according to reports.
The defender’s future has been the subject of increased speculation this summer, with Leverkusen’s interest first reported as part of the Florian Wirtz deal. Quansah won’t be used as a makeweight in that transfer, however, with a fee now agreed between the German side and Liverpool.
Fresh claims emerged last week that Leverkusen remains keen on the center-back, and now Sky Sport states the two clubs are in talks, with “active negotiations” now taking place.
That was swiftly followed by a report in Kicker, which states Leverkusen is considering Quansah or Malick Thiaw to replace Jonathan Tah after the German international joined Bayern Munich earlier this window.
Both are seen as players who have “high potential” but are ready to play to “be called upon immediately”, with Quansah seen as the preference at this stage.
The report adds that Leverkusen won’t pay €45million ($52M/£38M), as the media has claimed, but is more likely to part with a fee closer to €30M ($34M/£26M). That would still represent a club-record deal for the 2024 Bundesliga champions.
Quansah has struggled to hold down a place in the team since Arne Slo t’s arrival, having previously made an impressive start to life as a senior Liverpool player under Jurgen Klopp.
Jarell Quansah
Jarell Quansah struggled to hold down a place in the Liverpool team this season. (Image: Getty Images)
But he played just 13 times in the Premier League this season, with only four starts. He was named at center-back on the opening weekend of the campaign, but the 22-year-old wasn’t selected in that role again from the off in a league match until after the title was sewn up.
The defender did start the Carabao Cup final, but was deployed at right-back. Slot admitted at the end of the season that Quansah needed to add more “consistency” to his game after falling to fourth choice in the center-back pecking order.
Currently on international duty with the England Under-21s, Quansah has played every minute for Lee Carsley’s side in Slovakia.
Jarell Quansah passes the ball
Quansah is currently on international duty with England Under-21s.
Asked last week about his future and current career trajectory, the academy graduate said : “It’s definitely developing. I’m not getting too high or too low with anything.
“I think I can take massive learnings from the three seasons I’ve had in professional football. From Bristol Rovers [on loan in 2023] until now, to put perspective and look back I’m in a very good position to take the next step.
“It comes with working hard and staying focused on what I can control. As for the future, it’ll put me in the best stead if I just keep my head down and keep working.”