Transfers: Real Madrid eye Quansah

Real Madrid are interested in signing Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen in a move that would deal a blow to Liverpool’s long-term aspirations of replacing Virgil van Dijk.

Quansah has emerged as a target for Los Blancos, who are ‘keen on’ signing the England international, according to Bild.

Capable of playing as a centre-back or a right-back, the 23-year-old has been closely watched by Real Madrid scouts and is said to be a close friend of Jude Bellingham.

Already, Jose Mourinho’s side are planning to sign two defenders next summer, and Quansah, who has also been linked with Chelsea, has emerged as a leading target.

However, Liverpool are also closely monitoring the development of the defender, who they have a buy-back option for after selling him to Leverkusen in a €35 million deal in 2025.

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The Reds have clearly earmarked Quansah as a possible replacement for veteran Van Dijk, whose contract expires at the end of June, leaving him liable to leave the club as a free agent, with Real Madrid even being touted as a potential destination.

Liverpool’s buy-back option is worth €70m and can be triggered at any point before 15 June, 2027, Bild reports. Leverkusen are unlikely to accept a bid of this value on the open market given they rejected a €65m offer from Arsenal in the summer.

But it’s not quite as straightforward as simply putting the money down: the Anfield club will also have to persuade the England defender that they are a better option than Real Madrid, who can employ Bellingham as an unofficial agent to persuade him to move to Spain.

Meanwhile, it’s likely that both Liverpool and Real Madrid see his long-term future in the centre of defence.

The Reds are expected to have an upcoming vacancy in that role with Van Dijk poised to depart, while Mourinho had wanted Madrid to recruit an additional centre-back during the summer transfer window.

According to the Career Advice tool of SciSports, a return to Liverpool is the best move open for Quansah, with a Club Fit score of 79 at Anfield.