Bayer Leverkusen to step up Jarell Quansah pursuit
Liverpool may look to replace 22-year-old if he leaves for German side with club holding an interest in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi
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Paul Joyce
, Northern Football Correspondent
Thursday June 19 2025, 4.00pm, The Times
Quansah has fallen down the pecking order at Liverpool
The two clubs have kept negotiations separate, but with Wirtz set to undergo a medical on Friday to seal his potential £116million move to Anfield the expectation is that Leverkusen will maintain dialogue over Quansah.
Liverpool are not pushing the England Under-21 to the exit door, but hold an interest in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi.
Quansah remains well regarded at the Merseyside club and signed a new deal last season. However, a lack of first-team minutes — he was afforded just 488 in the Premier League — means he is considering his future.
Leverkusen are guaranteed £100million
from the sale of Wirtz to Liverpool, a further £16million is linked to add-ons, and Quansah has been identified as a player who could improve the new head coach Erik ten Hag’s squad.
It would take a sizable fee, perhaps towards £40million, for Liverpool to consider selling the 22-year-old, who is at present at the Under-21 European Championship with Lee Carsley’s England squad. Leverkusen — who have also sold Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool for £29.5million — would clearly try and sign him for less.
Liverpool hold an interest in Guéhi if they need to strengthen at centre back
Liverpool’s centre-back options feel in something of a state of flux, notwithstanding the club captain Virgil van Dijk signing a new two-year contract. Ibrahima Konaté is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract and talks are yet to bring a breakthrough on an extension. Furthermore, there were reports in Spain last weekend that Real Madrid were interested in signing the France international on a free transfer next summer. In addition, Joe Gomez did not play as much as he wanted last season which was in part due to injury.
As a result, Liverpool’s hierarchy will have been considering what options could be available to strengthen at centre back if required. The England international Guéhi, who turns 25 next month, has one year to run on his existing deal at Palace.
Guéhi is liked by Liverpool, with circumstances around Quansah, and others, likely to determine whether any interest develops now, or they continue to monitor his situation given he would be available on a free transfer in 12 months.
The uncertainty over Guéhi has resulted in Palace opening talks with Sporting Lisbon over a potential move for the Ivory Coast international Ousmane Diomande. The 21-year-old is valued at around £40million and that would represent a club-record deal, outstripping the £32million paid to Liverpool for Christian Benteke in 2016.
