- Arsenal have made contact with Jarell Quansah’s camp over a possible move
- Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly rejected Ipswich’s £17 million offer for Exequiel Palacios
- Liverpool had a €70m buy-back clause for Quansah this summer, but it has expired and there are no clauses for other clubs
Arsenal Explore Quansah Deal After Leverkusen Breakthrough
Arsenal are looking into a move for Jarell Quansah, the former Liverpool defender who has enhanced his reputation since leaving Anfield for Bayer Leverkusen in a £35 million transfer last summer.
Quansah has impressed in Germany and was selected by England manager Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup, where he helped the Three Lions secure a bronze medal. The 23-year-old also played alongside Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa during the tournament.
Tuchel spoke highly of Quansah before the World Cup, underlining the range of qualities he believes the defender offers.
“I have a lot of trust in Jarell. I see his talent, but I see the package.
“He is tall, he is fast, he is strong in build-up. He is strong in the air. I saw him very strong playing for Liverpool in this position (right-back). So I always wanted to try.”
Those comments appear to have aligned with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s interest, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Gunners have opened discussions around a potential move despite Quansah’s Liverpool background.
🚨🔴⚪️ Arsenal made contact with Jarell Quansah’s camp over possible move this week.
Initial talks as @RobDorsettSky reported, Bayer Leverkusen will try to keep the defender this season.
Liverpool had €70m buy back clause this summer but expired — no clauses for other clubs. pic.twitter.com/88sSjk58nR
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2026
Konsa Interest Cooled By Price Tag
Arsenal had also shown interest in Ezri Konsa, but the Aston Villa defender’s valuation was considered too high for Arteta and his recruitment team to make a deal work.
Quansah’s age, profile and trajectory make him an attractive alternative. A switch to North London would be a painful development for many on Merseyside, particularly as Liverpool have already missed the opportunity to bring him back under the terms of the now-expired €70m buy-back clause.
Ipswich See Palacios Bid Rejected
Bayer Leverkusen are also dealing with Premier League interest in midfielder Exequiel Palacios, with Ipswich reportedly seeing a £17 million offer turned down.
The 27-year-old joined Leverkusen from his boyhood club River Plate in 2019 and has been an important figure for the German side since that move. Last season was disrupted by injuries, with Palacios limited to 18 Bundesliga appearances, including 12 starts.
Ipswich are eager to take Palacios to the Premier League, but Leverkusen have rejected their £17 million proposal. The Bundesliga club consider the offer far too low, and talks between the two clubs have been placed on hold.
Palacios is said to be keen on the transfer and has told Bayer Leverkusen that he would like to join Ipswich.
Transfer Situation At Bayer Leverkusen
| Player | Club Situation | Premier League Interest | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jarell Quansah | At Bayer Leverkusen after a £35 million move from Liverpool last summer | Arsenal have made contact with his camp over a possible move this week | 23 years old; England World Cup bronze medallist; Liverpool’s €70m buy-back clause expired this summer |
| Exequiel Palacios | Key Bayer Leverkusen midfielder since joining from River Plate in 2019 | Ipswich have had a £17 million bid rejected | 27 years old; made 18 Bundesliga appearances last season, starting 12; Leverkusen view the offer as “far too low” |
Leverkusen’s stance is clear in both cases: they are aiming to keep Quansah this season, while Ipswich’s opening move for Palacios has not met their valuation. For Arsenal and Ipswich, any progress will depend on whether Leverkusen’s position changes.
