Newcastle United’s Ambitious Trade Proposal
A year ago, Newcastle United sought to navigate the Premier League’s financial regulations by proposing a trade to Liverpool for rising star Anthony Gordon, who would head to Anfield while defender Jarell Quansah would join Newcastle. However, Liverpool was uninterested in offloading their promising young center-back.
Jarell Quansah’s Rising Profile
Quansah, 22, had a breakout season, rising from fifth choice to become Jurgen Klopp’s favored partner alongside Virgil van Dijk, starting 27 matches out of 33 appearances.
Current Developments
Fast-forward to now, and Bayer Leverkusen is nearing a £30 million deal for Quansah, including add-ons. This raised eyebrows since he only made four Premier League starts last term. The financial aspect is notable, particularly as Liverpool’s data analysts likely evaluated Quansah’s market worth against similarly aged defenders across Europe.
Michael Edwards, the former sporting director who now leads football operations for Fenway Sports Group, is known for securing robust financial returns on squad players. A comparable case last summer was Sepp van den Berg, a 23-year-old center-back who moved to Brentford for £20.2 million, double the market estimate of £10.3 million according to Transfermarkt. Currently, Quansah’s valuation stands at £17.1 million.
Evaluating Liverpool’s Strategy
Other profitable sales from Liverpool in recent years include players like Fabio Carvalho, Dominic Solanke, and Rhian Brewster, demonstrating a trend of successful exits that the fanbase has come to expect. In today’s transfer landscape, Liverpool looks to earlier transactions as references for their negotiations.
For instance, Maximilian Kilman’s move from Wolves to West Ham for £40 million or Joachim Andersen’s transfer for £30 million provide financial benchmarks for establishing Quansah’s worth. Similar past sales, especially that of Taylor Harwood-Bellis moving from Manchester City to Southampton for £20 million, reinforce Liverpool’s strategy of leveraging potential profit.
Quansah’s Underwhelming Season
A year prior, Liverpool viewed Quansah as a more valuable asset, having secured him with a long-term contract, reflecting his promising trajectory. Nevertheless, an underwhelming 2024-25 season marked by fluctuating performances and injuries left him with only 25 appearances, 13 of which were starts. Despite expectations for him to be a cornerstone of the defense for the next decade, Joe Gomez was often preferred over him when Ibrahima Konate was sidelined.
His confidence wavered through the season, starting on a low note as he was substituted during a match against Ipswich Town after a lackluster first half. Subsequent games demonstrated both his capabilities and limitations, with promising displays overshadowed by costly mistakes, including two own goals from close-range deflections.
Physicality and Coaching Insights
Quansah’s tackling style is aggressive, as he averages 4.9 tackles per 1,000 touches, ranking among the top in his position. However, his overall success rate in challenges placed him in the bottom half of center-backs, reflecting a need for improvement. Despite being praised for his physical attributes, the consistency of his performance has been a concern.
Coach Arne Slot acknowledged Quansah’s talent and recognized the need for him to fine-tune his game for top-level play. Despite not being in Liverpool’s urgent plans to sell him this summer, the right offer could lead to a sale, particularly as Quansah may seek more game time in view of the upcoming World Cup.
Quansah’s Future at Bayer Leverkusen
On the flip side, Liverpool is also in the market for center-back reinforcements, highlighting the irony in letting go of such a talented young player attuned to their system. Joining Bayer Leverkusen, Quansah will become part of a defensive reshuffle following managerial changes, as the club looks to invest in his potential while reshaping their squad post-Xabi Alonso‘s departure.
Ultimately, this move could serve as a pivotal opportunity for Quansah to establish himself further, shaking off the challenges faced during an unpredictable second professional season.
