Liverpool have Already ‘Agreed Terms’ to Sign £51m Defender – Report | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Long-Term Plan for Defensive Stability

Liverpool’s defensive strategy continues to make headlines with fresh revelations regarding Jarell Quansah. According to a detailed report in The Daily Mail, the club have gone a step further than previously known by agreeing personal terms with the 21-year-old centre-back should they exercise their €60m buy-back clause in 2027.

This move reflects both foresight and pragmatism. After years of consistency in central defence, change is on the horizon, with Virgil van Dijk expected to depart when his current deal expires in 2027. The Reds appear determined to avoid uncertainty by ensuring a pathway for Quansah’s potential return.

Emerging Talent and Recent Moves

The arrival of Giovanni Leoni from Parma has already added youthful energy to Arne Slot’s squad. At just 18, Leoni’s rapid progress has been rewarded with a first call-up to Italy’s senior national side. Liverpool also came close to landing Marc Guehi, and while Crystal Palace ultimately halted that move, there is confidence at Anfield that Guehi will eventually join.

In that context, Quansah’s situation becomes even more intriguing. He joined Bayer Leverkusen this summer for £35m, with Liverpool inserting a buy-back clause worth around €60m. The new detail, however, is that personal terms are already agreed, removing any future obstacles.

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‘Jarell Quansah. It can be revealed that Liverpool have a pre-existing agreement in place with Quansah over the terms of a future contract should they decide to use their buyback clause that was inserted when he was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m this summer,’ wrote Lewis Steele in The Daily Mail.

Planning Beyond Van Dijk

By 2027, Van Dijk will be nearing his 36th birthday, and as Steele reports, he is ‘most probably leaving’ the club. Alongside this, uncertainty surrounds Ibrahima Konate, whose contract runs until 2026, and Joe Gomez, who has been close to exiting in recent transfer windows.

‘But with Van Dijk most probably leaving in two years, Konate unsure about his future and Gomez very nearly departing two summers running, they will need more centre backs in the coming windows. It is by no means set in stone but Quansah could be an option to return,’ added Steele.

This layered approach demonstrates Liverpool’s commitment to maintaining squad depth. Ensuring that a player of Quansah’s calibre remains within reach is a strong message of intent, particularly given the importance of the centre-back role in Slot’s system.

Strategic Depth for the Future

Liverpool’s recruitment has often been praised for marrying short-term needs with long-term vision. The handling of Quansah’s transfer suggests that trend continues. In selling him to Bayer Leverkusen, the club allowed the player to gain vital experience and regular minutes, while at the same time safeguarding their ability to bring him back when the timing is right.

Should Quansah continue his development in the Bundesliga and return to Anfield in 2027, he would arrive as a matured defender ready to step into a leadership role, just as the club enter a new cycle without Van Dijk.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this report underlines the club’s growing reputation for careful planning. The days of knee-jerk transfer decisions appear firmly behind us. With Arne Slot steering the side to a Premier League title in his first season, trust in the process is high, and stories like this only reinforce that belief.

The knowledge that Jarell Quansah remains tied to Liverpool by more than a buy-back clause is reassuring. Fans watched him blossom last season, and although his sale to Leverkusen initially caused disappointment, the rationale is now clear. He gains invaluable experience at the highest level in Germany while Liverpool manage squad balance.

Looking ahead, the anticipation of life after Van Dijk is sobering but necessary. His leadership and presence have defined an era, yet football never stands still. By 2027, the club could have Leoni, Guehi and potentially Quansah all ready to form the next great defensive line.

This forward-thinking approach should be celebrated. It gives supporters confidence that Liverpool will remain at the forefront of English football even as key figures move on. Slot and the recruitment team appear aligned, ensuring that transitions are smooth rather than disruptive. For those in the Kop, this is exactly the type of joined-up thinking that can keep the club challenging domestically and in Europe for years to come.