Liverpool are reportedly considering a sensational U-turn move that would see academy graduate Jarrell Quansah return to Anfield just a year after leaving the club.
The 23-year-old England international joined Bayer Leverkusen in a £35m deal last summer, but his stunning rise in the Bundesliga has forced the Reds hierarchy to rethink their long-term defensive strategy.
Download the official CaughtOffSide app to get all the latest news and updates straight to your phone. above apple & Google play
Quansah has been a revelation for Leverkusen, establishing himself as the defensive lynchpin of a team that currently has the best defensive record in Germany.
Liverpool eye on signing Jarrell Quansah
report from team talk Liverpool scouts have suggested they were present at Leverkusen’s last four games, in which the club conceded just one goal, to strengthen their assessment of the centre-back.
Crucially, Liverpool inserted a buy-back clause into his original contract, which was set at £52.5m. Although the clause technically only kicks in in 2027, Leverkusen are reportedly aware of Liverpool’s renewed interest.
If Quansah expresses a desire to return home, the German club will likely not stand in his way, even if that means agreeing to an early deal this summer.
According to reports, the plan within Anfield is for Quansah to compete for the starting spot with Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet, who is out for the season with injury, and Giovanni Leoni, who is back in the game recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
Richard Hughes has been heavily criticized over transfer talks
Quansah’s potential transfer comes amid increased scrutiny of sporting director Richard Hughes.
Since taking over, Hughes has faced significant backlash from the fan base, particularly regarding contractual disputes between the club and key senior players following the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
The most pressing situation is that surrounding Ibrahima Konate, who is currently in the final months of his contract.
Negotiations have reportedly hit an alarming hurdle, with the Frenchman recently rejecting new offers amid interest from Real Madrid and PSG.
It now appears that selling Quansah for £35m was also a mistake and the club intends to cancel it, a mistake that could end up costing them around £20m a year later.
