Jarell Quansah is attracting the interest of Arsenal and Real Madrid but should Liverpool wish to re-sign the defender from Bayer Leverkusen, a deal is already in place
RIJEKA, CROATIA - OCTOBER 01: Jarell Quansah of England looks on as the England squad take part in a cold water recovery swim after a training session on October 01, 2026 in Rijeka, Croatia. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Jarell Quansah takes part in a cold water recovery swim after an England training session this week in Croatia(Image: Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
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When Liverpool decided to let Jarell Quansah leave for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025, the deal came with caveats for the buyers. A £35m agreement was struck with the Bundesliga side to allow the Warrington-born defender the chance to broaden his horizons at a club who had won the German title just two seasons prior, but also leave the door open for his return.
The opportunity to play regular Champions League football appealed to Quansah, who saw game-time at the BayArena as being more regular than it would have been at the time at Anfield under Arne Slot, who preferred Ibrahima Konate as Virgil van Dijk's partner at the back.
Liverpool, though, sold the Academy graduate with an attached buy-back clause and a pre-contract agreed with the player.
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That meant that any return for Quansah would be a relatively straightforward process of paying the fee that had been struck in the unusual terms.
There was to be no need for complicated or protracted negotiations with Leverkusen or any concern that the player himself might have wage demands too lofty for the Reds to realistically meet.
Liverpool always believed Quansah had the talent to eventually become an England regular and he has made good on that prediction, starting games at the World Cup and continuing his development during the current Nations League international break.
The right-back or centre-back admitted in April that his choice to move was a relatively straightforward one after Leverkusen offered him regular, first-team football, saying: "To be honest, I wouldn't say it was the hardest decision because I just wanted to play.
"I felt like I could play at the top level, the Bundesliga's a top league and being able to play in the Champions League and play top games.
"I think you just have maybe a gut feeling. Sometimes you can't think about it too much and listen to too many people to be honest, because you can listen to a few things and get persuaded."
The Reds can access the buy-back clause inserted into the deal that took Quansah to Germany up until the summer of 2027, with the fee decreasing each year.
And with the 23-year-old starting to prove Academy staff correct on the belief that he was destined to become an England star, the idea of him re-signing for Liverpool at a relatively modest £56m next summer has been floated.
With the 35-year-old Van Dijk inside the final year of his contract and yet to begin talks over a new deal, the idea of Quansah returning is at least a topic worth exploring.
Quansah started at right-back for England on Saturday as they demolished Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka. And it would be understandable if the key decision-makers at Anfield were sporting a wry smile, knowing that a Three Lions regular who knows the club inside and out would be available for a shade over £50m come the end of the season.
RIJEKA, CROATIA - OCTOBER 3: Martin Baturina of Croatia and Jarell Quansah of England compete for a ball during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Croatia and England at Stadion HNK Rijeka on October 3, 2026 in Rijeka, Croatia. (Photo by Goran Kovacic/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images)
Martin Baturina of Croatia and Jarell Quansah of England compete for the ball during the Nations League match at Stadion HNK Rijeka on October 3, 2026(Image: Goran Kovacic/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Liverpool took Ronald Araujo on loan in August with a fee set at £47m if they wanted to make to the agreement with Barcelona permanent. For a 27-year-old Uruguay international, that would appear to be another comparatively cost-effective deal to tie up.
It's early days concerning Araujo's future, but there is no doubt he is playing his part, having started at right-back for a side who have kept three successive clean sheets for the first time since the start of the 2024/25 term under Slot.
For a similar fee, Quansah would be a younger centre-back option who could also operate at right-back if needed. With Arsenal keen at one stage and Real Madrid seemingly now interested, it's clear the versatile defender will have options should he ever decide he wants to leave Leverkusen.
But the Reds appear set as things stand in their centre-back department. With Jeremy Jacquet impressing even the great Zinedine Zidane at senior international level with France, and Giovanni Leoni closing in on a return, the club has two young defenders who it believes can be elite.
Throw in the interesting development of Ifeanyi Ndukwe - on loan at Levante and now eligible for a UK work permit - and Mor Talla Ndiaye, and there are several exciting young centre-back options at Liverpool alongside Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Araujo, who has started his loan spell brightly.
Quansah, at £56m next summer, remains a potential chip for the Reds to play, but it feels as though the centre-back department, is as settled as it has been for quite some time right now.
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