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Opinion: Richard Hughes is about to pull off the 'swap deal' of the summer

Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25

© IMAGO - Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25

It looks like Liverpool have agreed to sell Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old centre-back found first-team minutes hard to come by under Arne Slot in the Premier League last season.

Quansah featured for around 400 minutes in the top flight - making only four starts - having been dislodged from the lineup by Ibrahima Konate at half-time on matchday one.

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Given his homegrown status and long-term contract, Quansah is a potential money-maker in the summer transfer window. Liverpool would be permitted to book the entire fee for the England under-21 international as profit.

READ MORE:Liverpool look to Saudi Arabia for £60m striker deal

That in turn would help with PSR obligations as well as giving Richard Hughes more money to play with. Leverkusen are going to pay £30m plus bonuses for Quansah, with the German club requiring a long-term replacement for Jonathan Tah.

Liverpool will earn £30m + on Quansah

This should be viewed as a MASSIVE transfer win for Hughes - especially in the context of incoming deals. Jeremie Frimpong - for example - was acquired from Leverkusen when the Reds activated his £29.5m release clause.

And if anyone told you at the start of the summer that Liverpool would sign Frimpong in exchange for Quansah - with Leverkusen even adding a bit more on in bonuses - the deal would have been seen as far-fetched.

But that is what is about to happen.

Quansah is somewhat of a late bloomer and was playing League One football as recently as 2023. He’s had two seasons in and around the Liverpool first team since being promoted by Jurgen Klopp.

But in the cold light of day he is always likely to be third or fourth choice.

© IMAGO

Liverpool's sensational deal for Frimpong

He has been at the club since the age of five, turning out for various youth teams before turning professional. Hughes has turned a player of that background into a deal worth £30m and more.

It is a huge bonus for the Reds. It means they are getting Frimpong for practically nothing. The Dutchman is 24 and a veteran of almost 200 top-level games with Leverkusen - named twice in the Bundesliga team of the season.

He’s a full international for the Netherlands - travelling to both the World Cup and European Championship as a squad member.

Florian Wirtz Jeremie Frimpong Liverpool

© IMAGO - Florian Wirtz Jeremie Frimpong Liverpool

Jeremie Frimpong is a peak talent

Frimpong featured extensively in Leverkusen’s double-winning campaign in 2023/24 - winning both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal undefeated. Going back even further and he won a TREBLE with Celtic back in 2020.

READ MORE: Liverpool preparing offer for £75m England forward

In every sense, Liverpool are acquiring a peak talent -one of the very best and most versatile players in world football. And thanks to the outgoing deal between Quansah and Leverkusen - they are doing so for practically nothing.

READ MORE:Fabrizio Romano drops MASSIVE hint that Liverpool have won striker race

Liverpool are known to be operating on a one-in, one-out basis this summer and are carefully overhauling their squad step by step. And in Frimpong to Liverpool / Quansah to Leverkusen, you won’t find a better arrangement elsewhere all summer long.

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