Liverpool fans have been reeling at the news today that former Reds defender Jarell Quansah is a major target for Arsenal this summer, with the Gunners in talks with Bayer Leverkusen.
Ever since the centre-back left Anfield last summer, reports from a variety of top outlets have claimed that Liverpool are waiting until 2027 to bring the 23-year-old back to the club.
According to a report from the Liverpool ECHO‘s Ian Doyle, there is already a deal in place that could see Quansah return to Anfield, but the Reds must still give it the green light.
Now, it looks as though their chance to do so could be snatched away by Arsenal as the Gunners make a move to sign him from Leverkusen to deal with the serious injury to William Saliba.
Arsenal enter talks with Bayer Leverkusen for potential Jarell Quansah signing
According to a report from Sky Sports, the Gunners are hoping to increase their defensive depth and have identified Quansah as a player able to play at centre-back and right-back.
Quansah: “Arsenal are in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a possible deal for England defender Jarell Quansah.
“It’s thought Leverkusen don’t want to sell, having been impressed with the 23-year-old’s performances in the Bundesliga, and his mature attitude in adapting to his new environment.
“It is likely that Arsenal would need to pay considerably more than the £30m the German club paid for Quansah last July to prise him away, with four years remaining on his contract.”
Liverpool have a clause that could see them beat Arsenal to Quansah
Given that Arsenal have shied away from spending £60m on Ezri Konsa, they might find themselves in a similar situation with Quansah.
Liverpool’s deal with Bayer Leverkusen, which saw the Germans sign him for £35m, included a buy-back option, which gives them the right to bring him back to Anfield for €70 million (£59.8m) this summer or €60 million (£51.3m) in 2027.
While Liverpool are unlikely to exercise their buy-back clause this summer, Arsenal may find it difficult to sign Quansah given his stock has increased dramatically since leaving Anfield, where he was often scapegoated.
After leaving the club, Quansah spoke about what motivated him to make the move.
Speaking about the transfer, Quansah told Sky Sports News: “It was the [Leverkusen] management and the way they approached me, because they had a very clear plan of what they’d been watching and everything they saw from me,” he told Sky Sports News about his move.
“They had so much detail in terms of what they’d seen of me, the potential they thought I could live up, to and it matched up to what I was thinking as well. Seeing as we were on the same page in that sense, it was a no-brainer.”