What’s going on with Jarell Quansah and Liverpool following defender’s England Red card nightmare
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Jarell Quansah will be the most relieved man in world football on Sunday morning, after England won their last-16 World Cup clash with Mexico despite the former Liverpool defender recklessly getting himself sent off.Quansah returned to fitness in time to start at right-back at the Mexico City Stadium, and largely did well until he was given his marching orders for an unnecessary scything tackle.The former Liverpool man will now miss Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway, but the damage to his reputation will perhaps serve as the biggest blow. Where does Arne Slot’s treatment of Jarell Quansah rank in his mistakes as Liverpool boss?
The LFC academy graduate is set for a big new role in England's World Cup campaign… Nevertheless, the 23-year-old remains one of the brightest young defenders in the game, and after Liverpool included a buyback clause in his sale to Bayer Leverkusen last summer, his story with the Reds may not be totally over.But though they may be searching for another centre-back – and potentially a right-back – to add to the squad this summer, it is reportedly most likely that if Liverpool return for Quansah, it will not be until next year.Liverpool’s Quansah buyback clause reduces in 2027There are plenty of Liverpool supporters who never wanted to see Quansah sold, and his rash challenge on Sunday will not change that fact.However, as Bulinews reported in March, the Reds’ buyback fee would stand at €80m if they decided to trigger it this summer. That surely feels way too high.Photo by Manuel Velasquez – FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: What happened when Liverpool tried to sign Erling Haaland’s Norway sidekick Andreas SchjelderupFour months ago it was deemed ‘unlikely’ that Liverpool would trigger this, and the most probable turn of events would reportedly see them come back in for him one year later, in 2027, instead.If that happened, Liverpool would have to pay €65m for Quansah, which is still almost double the €35m they sold him to Leverkusen for, but is reportedly seen as being more likely.Moreover, the Reds are said to have structured the buyback on a two-year timeline to allow Quansah to potentially succeed Virgil van Dijk in their defence.Liverpool should not commit to Quansah returnAlthough many Liverpool fans are not necessarily England fans, they will still have been gutted to see Quansah sent off on Sunday.The former academy defender is still young, and there is a chance that this incident could follow him for the rest of his career.
Who should Liverpool’s new top target be after being rejected by Yan Diomande? This is a BIG blow to the Reds' summer plans 😓 Photo Credit: Getty Images/Photo Agency That uncomfortable eventuality is lessened by the fact that England hung on to win, but it does now feel as though Quansah will have to work hard to win the footballing public back, especially as he plays overseas.While some of the reaction to his red card has been predictably over the top, it should give Liverpool some pause for thought over whether it is really worth coming back in for Quansah at what is still a big fee.He was not without error during his two years in the Liverpool first-team, and Sunday’s rush of blood to the head is more evidence that he is perhaps not quite at the level the Reds need, especially with regard to succeeding Van Dijk.Quansah will need good people around him in the coming weeks as he aims to shake off his despair at the Azteca, and a comeback to Liverpool would definitely provide him with that.