We want you: Liverpool tell £68m England defender in talks | OneFootball

Liverpool’s problems in defence are severe and growing.

They have been without a first-choice right-back since January with Conor Bradley suffering a terrible leg injury against Arsenal.

Jeremie Frimpong and others have been filling in but it is clear on the eve of this new season that a solution is required until Bradley is once again fit.

In the middle meanwhile the issue has become a lot worse since Joe Gomez’s injury.

Liverpool’s only other senior option besides Virgil van Dijk is out injured for the next month after breaking down against Sunderland last weekend.

Liverpool need defenders and fast

That leaves a pair of 18-year-olds in situ for Andoni Iraola for the rest of preseason in the shape of Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye.

Ndukwe is unavailable for the Premier League season owing to a work permit issue and there are also problems to solve over Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet.

Leoni, 19, is not yet fit after an ACL injury last season while Jacquet is only now beginning to come into the picture for first-team minutes.

The 21-year-old has been out since February and is in line to start alongside Van Dijk when the season kicks off.

It leads to decision-makers at Anfield including Richard Hughes and Iraola to consider alternatives.

Liverpool hold talks over Quansah deal

And a report in Fussball Daten is now claiming that a meeting has been held with Jarell Quansah over a sensational return to Merseyside.

The defender - who can play at right-back and centre-back - joined Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last year with a 2027 buyback reportedly included in the deal.

“Liverpool's management has placed former player Jarell Quansah at the top of their list to bolster their defensive depth and secure defensive leadership for years to come,” the report reads.

“The club's executives recently held direct talks with the player's representatives and family.

“During this closed-door meeting, his potential role in the Anfield project, the hierarchy within the squad, and his position in the defensive rotation were discussed in detail.”

Leverkusen put blockers up on Quansah deal

Liverpool’s desire to bring back Quansah this summer is set to be frustrated however with Leverkusen putting a blocker on any potential move.

“However, the stance of German side Bayer Leverkusen, who have completely closed the door, suggests that the only way to resolve this transfer issue is through the buy-back clause in his contract,” the report reads.

“With the German representative completely closed to negotiations on the open market, the only legal option that could facilitate a transfer remains the buy-back clause in the previous contract between the two clubs.

“If an open negotiating table were set up under free market conditions, it is stated that the transfer fee demanded by Leverkusen's management for the young star would not fall below the range of 70 to 80 million euros.”

Whether Liverpool are desperate enough to do business at €80m (£68m) is another story - with money needing to be spent on the wings.

But there could also be a threat to the Quansah comeback from Newcastle and Tottenham according to the report - while Inter Milan, Napoli and Borussia Dortmund are all thought to be keeping tabs.