Jarell Quansah is not getting carried away. The 23-year-old Leverkusen centre-back spent the summer at the centre of a €65m bid from Arsenal, has since been contacted by Chelsea, and remains a defender Real Madrid are scouting. His own answer to the noise is almost deliberately flat.
“I only have to focus on playing the season, playing as many games as I can and trying to improve,” Quansah told TeamTalk.
“If I’m in the conversation then that’s for another day but we’ve got a massively important game.”
“That’s the way I’m looking at it at the moment. You can’t get too ahead of yourself because anything could be around the corner.”
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Chelsea move ahead of Arsenal
Arsenal’s €65m (£55.5m) summer bid was rejected by Leverkusen, with the Gunners long identifying Quansah as a leading defensive target but stopping short of a second formal approach. Arsenal signed Ezri Konsa for €59.6m in August instead, though Quansah has stayed on their shortlist.
Chelsea have since made contact, according to Football London, moving ahead of Arsenal in the race. The Blues have not yet reached an agreement with Leverkusen, who turned Arsenal’s offer away despite Football Transfers currently valuing Quansah at €46.3m.
Real Madrid are the third name in the mix. Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has reported that the Spanish club are “regularly scouting him”.
Liverpool’s €70m buyback waits
Liverpool inserted a buyback clause when they sold Quansah to Leverkusen for £30m in July 2025. The Reds’ €70m (£67.5m) option becomes active in June 2027, giving Liverpool a route to bring their former defender back for more than double the fee they banked less than two years earlier.
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Quansah himself has decided against a return to Liverpool, according to TeamTalk, and has made 49 appearances in all competitions for Leverkusen since the switch.
“I’m happy as long as I’m playing,” Quansah said.
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