Bayer Leverkusen are keen on acquiring Jarell Quansah from Liverpool to address a significant gap in their defense under the new management of Erik Ten Hag.
With Jonathan Tah departing for Bayern Munich this summer, Leverkusen is exploring potential replacements.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Quansah is among those on the shortlist, alongside Loïc Badé.
Interestingly, discussions about Quansah appear to be separate from any negotiations regarding Florian Wirtz.
At just 22 years old, Quansah is a product of Liverpool’s academy, having made his professional debut in August 2023.
He played a vital role in Liverpool’s two EFL Cup triumphs under Jürgen Klopp and contributed with 13 appearances during their successful Premier League campaign last season.
His versatility allows him to operate both as a central defender and a fullback, a quality that could be advantageous for Ten Hag, especially in light of Jeremie Frimpong’s recent transfer to Merseyside.
Quansah also gained valuable experience in the Champions League, starting two of Liverpool’s group stage matches and appearing four times in total during the tournament.
As Ten Hag looks to reshape the squad, moving away from Xabi Alonso’s favored three-at-the-back approach, Quansah could fit seamlessly into the new system.
Additionally, he might be seen as a long-term investment to ease expectations from the outset.
However, if Liverpool decides to let Quansah leave, they may find themselves with a shallow defensive roster.
The team currently boasts central defenders Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Ibrahima Konaté, while the fullback positions include Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Conor Bradley, and Frimpong, who is set to fill in for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Van Dijk and Konaté are expected to be the mainstays in defense, with Frimpong stepping into the starting line-up.
Liverpool is also reportedly considering Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez for the left-back position, but they might hesitate to accommodate Leverkusen’s interest due to squad depth concerns.
Wataru Endō, who typically plays as a midfielder, made three appearances as a center-back last season, although these were limited to domestic cups—hardly offering the reliable depth that manager Slot would seek as they aim to challenge across all competitions next season.