Manchester United Joins Arsenal in Race for Jarell Quansah
Manchester United have stepped into Arsenal’s chase for Jarell Quansah, turning an already intriguing transfer story into a full-blown Premier League tug of war.
The former Liverpool centre-back, now at Bayer Leverkusen, is the subject of what are described as “active talks” with both United and Arsenal, according to Football Transfers. Arsenal are understood to be slightly ahead at this stage, but that advantage looks fragile.
From Liverpool hope to Leverkusen pillar
Quansah’s rise has been rapid. Tipped to become a cornerstone at Liverpool after breaking through at Anfield, he instead became a major sale last summer when the club chose to cash in. Leverkusen paid around £30m for the 23-year-old, and he wasted no time justifying the outlay.
A strong debut campaign in the Bundesliga pushed him straight into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup, underlining how quickly his reputation has grown.
Liverpool’s own defensive issues sparked talk of a reunion. They held a €70m buy-back clause for this summer, but that clause has now expired and reports earlier in the window indicated they had no intention of triggering it anyway. With that safety net gone, the market around Quansah has opened up.
Arsenal move first
Arsenal sensed the opportunity. On Friday morning it emerged that the North London club had made contact over a potential deal, viewing Quansah as an alternative to Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano confirmed the approach on X, stating that Arsenal had opened talks with Quansah’s camp over a possible move this week. He added that Leverkusen want to keep the defender and stressed that, with Liverpool’s buy-back clause expired, there are no clauses in place for other clubs to exploit.
Arsenal’s interest is clear: a composed, ball-playing centre-back who is comfortable in the air and fits Mikel Arteta’s demand for defenders who can both build attacks and dominate set pieces.
United arrive on the scene
Just as Arsenal tried to press home their early move, United entered the picture.
Football Transfers report that United are now in “active talks” of their own and have “stepped up their move” for the versatile defender. While Arsenal are currently seen as being ahead in the race, the gap is described as bridgeable.
The dynamic between the clubs and Leverkusen could prove decisive. Arsenal are thought to hold an edge due to a strong relationship with the Bundesliga champions, but Leverkusen are reluctant to part with one of their standout performers and are expected to demand far more than the €35m they initially paid.
Early signals suggest a significant gulf between Arsenal’s valuation and Leverkusen’s asking price. That kind of stand-off is exactly the sort of opening United could exploit if they decide to push harder.
‘He should have been Van Dijk’s successor’
Ronan Murphy, described as a Bundesliga expert, believes both English clubs are right to be circling.
“The answer to Liverpool’s centre-back problems should have been Jarell Quansah,” Murphy told Football Transfers. “The England international should have been Virgil van Dijk’s successor at Anfield, but neither player nor club could wait around for that to happen.”
Murphy pointed to Quansah’s decision to join Leverkusen in 2025 as a pivotal step, taken “to get first-team experience and to prove himself at the highest level” – something the defender has done “exactly” in the year since that move.
“So it is no surprise that he is being linked with a move back to the Premier League just a year after leaving for €35m,” Murphy continued. “But what is surprising is that it is not a return to Anfield that is on the cards.”
Instead, the links are to Arsenal, who Murphy says would “rightly value his ball-playing ability as well as his presence in the air for set pieces and general defending.”
Quansah’s own ambition is no secret. “He said himself back in 2024 that he wants to be the best defender in Europe,” Murphy added. “That is something he probably cannot achieve if he remains at Bayer Leverkusen, but Arsenal under Mikel Arteta could be the perfect place to reach that goal.”
United, of course, will feel they can offer a similar platform – and perhaps a clearer path to becoming the defensive leader of a new era at Old Trafford.
The question now is simple: with Leverkusen holding firm and the price rising, which English giant blinks first, and which one is prepared to gamble big on a defender who believes he can become the best in Europe?
