Liverpool’s transfer plans have shifted quickly following the confirmed departure of defender Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, with the Premier League giants now preparing a bid for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.
Quansah, of Ghanaian heritage, signed a five-year deal with the Bundesliga champions in a move worth £35 million.
His exit leaves a gap in Liverpool’s defensive line, one they hope to fill with Guehi, who has Ivorian roots and is entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.
“He’s quick, agile and a good footballer,” Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said after confirming the deal.
Quansah made 17 league appearances for Liverpool last season and had been tipped as a future regular. However, the lure of Champions League football and a leading role in Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen project proved too strong.
Liverpool are now stepping up efforts to land Guehi, who is also admired for his leadership and composure. According to the Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele, Palace value their captain at around £50 million.
While Liverpool have not yet made an official bid, they are expected to move swiftly to avoid competition and to shore up their backline ahead of pre-season.
Guehi’s arrival is particularly urgent, as fellow centre-back Ibrahima Konaté is reportedly unsettled over stalled contract talks and wage demands.
Club captain Virgil van Dijk is said to favour continuity and would welcome the addition of a reliable partner in the heart of defence.
With Guehi’s contract set to expire in 2026, Crystal Palace risk losing him at a reduced price—or worse, on a free—if they do not reach an agreement soon. Liverpool view this as the ideal window to strike.
