Liverpool are reportedly back in talks with Bayer Leverkusen despite concluding deals for Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz. Frimpong has already been unveiled as a new Reds player and Wirtz is due to follow after a Premier League-record £116million fee was agreed between the two clubs.
But their transfer business may not be done there. Leverkusen have taken a liking to Jarell Quansah, and they may use the goodwill built up with Liverpool to agree a quick, simple and peaceful deal. However, even in spite of nabbing two of the German side's best players in the early stages of the summer, the Reds are reluctant to let Quansah go on the cheap.
Various reports indicate that Liverpool and Leverkusen are still in contact, with Quansah now the main topic of discussion. It has been said that the Premier League champions are demanding a £40million fee for the 22-year-old, who only started four Premier League games last season.
Kicker have indicated that Leverkusen are prepared to table an unprecedented bid by their standards, which would go above and beyond their previous highest outlay for a defender - the £20m they paid for Odilon Kossounou in 2021. But their bid is still set to fall well short of Liverpool's expectations.
The German outlet claim that around £25.6m should be enough to get the deal done, with Arne Slot already well-stocked in central defence, where Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk are an established partnership.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool are willing to compromise, or whether holding out for more money risks a souring of relations. Slot started Quansah in the opening match of last season - a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road. But the youngster was hooked at half-time and did not feature in the Premier League again for over two months.
Towards the end of the campaign, the Reds boss made it clear that Quansah needs to work on consistency to take his game to the next level.
"He has all the qualities, and he has already shown that to me, to play for this club," said the Dutchman. "But the biggest part of us winning the league is of course consistency and that is the most difficult part for a younger player to get.
"Some, like Lamine Yamal, it's not a really big problem for him to find consistency. But Jarell, I think he developed really well throughout the whole season. Jarell is fast, strong and comfortable on the ball. He has every ingredient a centre-back for this club should have. Now the last parts should be consistency in his performances."