Arsenal open talks with Leverkusen for versatile England defender Jarrel Quansah amid Saliba and Timber fitness concerns | OneFootball

Arsenal are in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a potential deal to sign defender Jarrel Quansah.

The North Londoners have started negotiations with Leverkusen to determine whether a deal can be done for the England international.

Mikel Arteta wants to sign a player who can operate at centre-back and right-back, amid fitness concerns regarding William Saliba and Jurrien Timber. Arsenal had pursued Ezri Konsa, of Aston Villa, but have baulked at Villa's demands for the 28-year-old.

Sky Sports are reporting that Arsenal are now exploring a move for Quansah. The 23-year-old signed for Leverkusen from Liverpool last summer for a fee of around £34m.

He made 28 league appearances in theBundesliga, scoring four times, and earned a place in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup. Quansah also ranked second among all Bundesliga centre-backs for progressive carries last season.

Leverkusen do not want to sell the defender and will demand a significant profit on the fee paid for Quansah last summer.

Liverpool have a buy-back clause on Quansah, which could have seen academy graduate rejoin this summer for €80 million (£69.3m), or for €60 million (£52m) in 2027. The Reds had been linked with Quansah, prior to Ronald Araujo's loan move from Barcelona.

Arteta says Arsenal want more signings amid Quansah approach

Earlier this week, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the club were working hard to bring in new signings.

"We are actively trying to do so. The thing in the market is that it doesn't just depend on you. We are very clear on that.

"But the approach, the will and the desire of the club, that's unquestionable. We want to try to do that. But we cannot promise that we're going to do it because it doesn't only depend on us."

"There is more that we want to do because every time we have an opportunity to improve the squad and bring more quality and depth to the squad, we need to do that," said Arteta.