Jarell Quansah left Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen this time last year, but the young English defender is being lined up for a surprise return to the Premier League
Jarell Quansah is a transfer target for Arsenal
Jarell Quansah is a transfer target for Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
Jarell Quansah could return to the Premier League this summer, with Arsenal chasing the former Liverpool defender.
Quansah's stock has risen since he left Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen a year ago. The 23-year-old made 43 appearances for the German club last season and did enough to earn a spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for this year's World Cup.
A center-back by trade, Quansah filled in at right-back during the summer tournament. He was sent off during the 3-2 win against Mexico in the last 16 but returned for the third-place playoff against France, helping England win 6-4 and secure the bronze medal.
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Quansah's impressive performances for Leverkusen and England have fueled speculation over a return to Liverpool. The Reds sold the defender to Leverkusen in a £35 million ($47.3 million) deal last summer, with the option to re-sign him in the future.
Liverpool included several buy-back clauses in the deal. It's believed the Reds can re-sign him for €80 million ($92.4 million) this summer, or they can wait until next summer to get him for €60 million ($69.3 million).
Yet there's nothing stopping other teams from swooping for Quansah, too. According to Sky Sports, Arsenal is in talks with Leverkusen over a potential deal for Quansah.
Quansah has impressed at Bayer Leverkusen
Quansah has impressed at Bayer Leverkusen(Image: Getty Images)
It's claimed that Leverkusen does not want to sell the player and would need to receive an offer well in excess of £35 million to consider a transfer. But if the Gunners can persuade Leverkusen to sell, Quansah could line up against Liverpool this coming season.
That would be a huge blow to the Reds. Born in Warrington, a town located between Liverpool and Manchester, many Reds fans would love to see Quansah return to Anfield once he's developed his game in Germany.
The local lad broke into Liverpool's first-team squad during the 2023/24 season, having spent time on loan at Bristol Rovers the previous term. He played 33 times under Jurgen Klopp during that campaign, helping the Reds win the 2024 Carabao Cup.
Quansah remained part of the squad for Arne Slot's first season in charge, playing 25 times as Liverpool went on to win the Premier League title.
Despite impressing when called upon, Quansah was often viewed as the fourth-choice center-back behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez. It was clear that he needed to leave Liverpool to play consistent first-team soccer.
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"Last summer it was a really tough decision, to be honest, to walk away from my boyhood club - a club I've been at all my life," said Quansah in June. "But I just knew it was the best thing that I needed for my career, to be playing week in, week out.
"People who know me know I back myself no matter what, and I feel like I'm capable of playing at the highest level, and I wanted to show that this season.
"To be rewarded, being selected for the World Cup, is an absolute honor, and it's all down to the hard work that I've put in over the past 12 months."