Liverpool has reached an agreement to transfer centre-back Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, with the Reds also believed to have secured a buy-back option for the England international.
Arne Slot’s team set a new Premier League transfer record by acquiring midfielder Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen this summer, having previously attracted right-back Jeremie Frimpong from the German club earlier in the transfer window.
Discussions between the two clubs have persisted since Wirtz’s transfer, this time with Liverpool acting as the selling party.
Leverkusen identified Quansah as their preferred substitute for the departed Jonathan Tah and acted swiftly to finalize the agreement.Recent reports indicate that Liverpool and Leverkusen have come to a consensus on a deal valued at an initial £30 million ($40.4 million), with an additional £5 million ($6.7 million).
Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that Liverpool has maintained control over Quansah’s future by negotiating a buy-back clause, although the specific value of this clause has not been disclosed.
The funds generated from Quansah’s sale are expected to be reinvested in acquiring another centre-back.
Reports have indicated that Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi is a player of interest; however, the England international is believed to be hesitant about joining a team that does not offer assurances of regular first-team football.
Quansah, aged 22, played fewer than 500 minutes in the Premier League during 13 appearances last season.
He made only four starts in the league, one of which occurred on the opening weekend, where he was substituted after 45 minutes and publicly criticized by Slot.
Although the two quickly repaired their relationship, Quansah primarily served as the backup option to starting defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. Guéhi is unlikely to accept a similar position, especially with the World Cup approaching next summer.