Manchester United Target Jarell Quansah as Arsenal Pursues Defender

The Premier League’s top end is circling Jarell Quansah, and Liverpool’s former heir apparent at centre-back is suddenly at the heart of a tug-of-war between two of their fiercest rivals.

The 23-year-old, once tipped as Virgil van Dijk’s long-term successor at Anfield, left Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen last summer in a deal worth around £30m. It looked like a sensible step: regular minutes in the Bundesliga, a chance to grow away from the glare. He did more than that. A standout debut campaign in Germany has already pushed him into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.

Liverpool, short in defence and under scrutiny for their succession planning at the back, had a €70m buy-back clause in place for this summer. That clause has now expired. Reports this month indicated they do not intend to re-sign him in this window. The door, wide open.

Arsenal were the first English heavyweight to stride through it. On Friday morning it emerged that the Gunners had made contact over a move, identifying Quansah as an alternative to Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa. A different profile, a different ceiling, and crucially, a defender who already looks comfortable operating at the very top level.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the north London club’s approach, revealing that Arsenal spoke to Quansah’s camp this week about a possible deal. These are described as initial talks, with Bayer Leverkusen determined to keep one of their key players for the coming season. There are no clauses helping Arsenal or anyone else. Any move will have to be negotiated the hard way.

Just as Arsenal tried to steal a march, Manchester United arrived.

According to Football Transfers, United are now in “active talks” over a deal for Quansah and have “stepped up their move” for the versatile defender. At this stage, Arsenal are thought to be ahead in the race, but that lead feels fragile.

Leverkusen’s stance is clear. They paid €35m for Quansah and, after his rapid rise, are ready to demand a fee well beyond that figure. Arsenal’s long-standing good relationship with the German club is said to give them a slight edge in negotiations, yet early signals point to a sizeable gap in valuation between the Gunners and Leverkusen. That gap is exactly where United hope to squeeze in.

If Arsenal hesitate, Old Trafford will not.

The interest makes sense. Quansah brings composure on the ball, authority in the air and the kind of calm presence that top managers crave at the heart of their back line. He can build from the back, defend his box and handle big occasions. That blend has turned him from Liverpool prospect to one of Europe’s most-watched young defenders in just 12 months.

“​The answer to Liverpool’s centre-back problems should have been Jarell Quansah,” Bundesliga analyst Ronan Murphy told Football Transfers, underlining the sense of regret that may yet grow on Merseyside.

In Murphy’s eyes, Quansah was supposed to be van Dijk’s successor at Anfield. Instead, impatience on both sides saw him leave for Leverkusen in 2025 to chase first-team football and prove he could operate at the highest level. He has done exactly that.

So the links back to England were inevitable. The surprise, as Murphy points out, is that the route home does not currently run through Anfield.

Arsenal have been heavily credited with interest, attracted by his ball-playing qualities and his dominance at set pieces. Mikel Arteta has built a side that demands defenders who can dictate as much as destroy. Quansah fits that mould.

He has never hidden his ambition either. Back in 2024 he stated that he wants to become the best defender in Europe. That is a bold target. Staying at Leverkusen, even under a progressive structure, might not be enough to reach it. A move to Arsenal, Murphy argues, could offer the perfect platform.

But United, still reshaping their back line and searching for a long-term anchor in central defence, can offer something powerful of their own: a guaranteed starring role in one of the game’s most scrutinised teams. If Arsenal’s negotiations stall over price, United will be ready to pounce.

Quansah left England to find opportunity. Now two of the country’s biggest clubs are trying to drag him back. The only question is whose shirt he pulls on next – and how long Liverpool can bear to watch from the outside.