£47m Liverpool defender deal moves one step closer

Liverpool fans were left reeling by a particular piece of transfer reporting this week.

The Reds sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen back in summer 2025 for a fee of around £30m.

The homegrown defender, 23, has gone from strength to strength in the Bundesliga - emerging as a genuine contender to start for Thomas Tuchel’s England too.

Quansah’s sale had a buyback clause attached - reportedly around £60m in 2027. That would have been the ideal timing - with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both due to be out of contract next summer.

Quansah doesn't want to come back

Nonetheless it has now been claimed that Quansah has got no intention of returning to Liverpool at the end of the current campaign.

That means another transfer frustration lies in store for the 2024/25 Premier League champions and new sporting director Julian Ward.

But when one door closes another one opens.

And with the news that the Merseysiders won’t be able to easily pursue a deal for Quansah comes the likelihood of a permanent transfer for Ronald Araujo.

Surely this means Araujo stays

The Uruguayan defender, 27, signed on loan from Barcelona back in August - inking a deal until the end of the season. Liverpool reserve the right to sign Araujo for around £47m at the end of his loan spell.

And with Araujo emerging as a top defender at right back - while also providing much-needed cover at centre-back - he could become the ideal option to replace Quansah in the Reds’ transfer plans.

LFC can sign Araujo for £47m

“It could be a case of the funds set aside for Ronald Araujo's potential £47m permanent move from Barcelona could instead be used for Quansah's return but it is still early days in this season,” a report earlier this week in the Liverpool Echo stated.

“Liverpool's need for a long-term centre-back depends heavily on Virgil van Dijk's future. He is out of contract next year as it stands.”

That would suggest it would be one or the other in the case of Quansah and Araujo. With the Englishman now off the agenda we could be edging closer to a permanent arrival for the on-loan Barca star.