Liverpool have been linked with a move to re-sign a former defender.placeholder image
Liverpool have been linked with a move to re-sign a former defender. | Getty Images/ Canva
Liverpool have been linked with a move for a highly-rated defender - but would Newcastle be a better fit?
Newcastle United are likely to go through a changing of the guard when it comes to their central defensive options in the summer.
Fabian Schär, 34, is in the final year of his contract at St James’ Park and faces an uncertain future after 251 appearances and eight excellent seasons with the football club. Dan Burn turns 34 in May and is only under contract until 2027. He’s etched his name in Newcastle folklore with a goal in the Carabao Cup final win and has been a colossus, but at some stage soon the club are going to have to find a successor to the towering Blyth-born centre-back.
Realistically speaking, defence has to be near the top of Newcastle’s priorities next summer. And while the full-back area is perhaps the most pressing, the need for a centre-back is also paramount - could they turn to a former Premier League star with whom they’ve been linked before?
Why Newcastle United need to sign a central defender
The Magpies signed Malick Thiaw from AC Milan for an estimated £30m last summer and in the early part of the season saw the calibre of a player that’s competed in the Champions League semi-final.
However, despite being a standout signing, the 24-year-old’s not always been consistent - and the same has applied to Sven Botman, who after numerous injuries has struggled to hit the heights he did three years ago when the Magpies finished the 2022/23 season with the joint best defensive record in the league.
Newcastle conceded just 33 times throughout that season. For context after 25 matches this term they’ve already shipped 36 - the third highest of any team outside the relegation places - showing that they haven't quite got that same secure defensive foundation they once had.
Eddie Howe teams like to play on the front foot and press high up the pitch, but to do that you need players with excellent speed, awareness and recovery speed, which is something they could get if they made a move for someone like Jarell Quansah.
Why Jarell Quansah could be an excellent fit for Newcastle United
Quansah, who left the Premier League over the summer to complete a £35m move to Bayer Leverkusen, is believed to be the subject of interest from former club Liverpool.
Football Insider reports that the Reds are interested in re-signing the 23-year-old after struggling this season due to a lack of defensive options. Virgil van Dijk remains an all-time great but has shown slight signs of a physical decline this season, while Ibrahima Konaté has not looked like the same imperious presence that he was last season amid questions around his future.
Liverpool have struggled defensively this season and could certainly benefit from bringing Quansah back based on his performances at Bayer Leverkusen. This season, Quansah has made 28 appearances across all competitions and scored two goals. He started the vast majority of those matches and has settled in nicely despite the team’s slight drop off after a series of big player sales.
However, it could be argued that for Quansah, Newcastle would be a better step if they were to renew their interest and hijack the deal. For starters, there’d be less competition for places at St James’ Park, he’d play under a manager that’s likely to put a lot of trust in him unlike Slot, and he’d be able to continue his development.
At Newcastle, he’d likely be one of the main four central defenders, while at Liverpool he’d face competition from Van Dijk, potentially Konaté, Leoni when he returns to fitness and big summer signing Jérémy Jacquet, who has already agreed to join for around £60m.
Eddie Howe is widely thought to be a big fan of Quansah. He made a move for him the 2024 summer window and was unsuccessful while the Magpies were also linked with him again in 2025 before his move to the BayArena.
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