Bayer Leverkusen are confident of reaching a deal to sign Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, talkSPORT understands.
Talks between the two clubs are set to accelerate once Florian Wirtz has completed his move from Leverkusen to Anfield.
Wirtz will make his British-record £116million switch official very soon, as he undergoes his medical at the club this week.
Once the deal is finalized, Quansah is anticipated to leave in a €30m transfer, roughly £25.6m, setting a new club record from Leverkusen for a defender.
Leverkusen are looking for a replacement for Jonathan Tah, who departed the club to join Bayern Munich this summer.
Reports have claimed that Sevilla’s Loic Bade and AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw are potential options to head to Germany.
But Quansah is believed to be top of new manager Erik ten Hag’s list and Leverkusen are confident of reaching an agreement.
The 22-year-old centre-back only made 13 appearances in the Premier League during Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
His Reds career has prospered over the last two years, following his professional debut for the club in August 2023.
He has been a regular in the matchday squads ever since then, and signed a new long-term contract in October.
But after only playing a handful of times during Liverpool’s Premier League-winning campaign, Quansah may want more minutes.
The centre-back has been competing against captain Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté for a starting spot in the team.
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It has meant that he hasn’t had much time on the pitch in the top-flight, only playing 489 minutes this season.
Quansah recently spoke about his future while at the U21 European Championships with England.
And he believes he’s ready to take the ‘next step’, potentially hinting at finding first-team football away from Liverpool.
He said: “It [my career] is definitely developing. I’m not getting too high or too low.
“I can take massive learnings from the three seasons I’ve been in professional football, from Bristol [Rovers] to now.
“I’m in a very good position to take the next step, and it just comes with working hard and staying focused on what I can control.”
News of Quansah’s impending exit to Bayer Leverkusen comes after reports of Real Madrid making a swoop for Konate.
Spanish outlet MARCA report that the Frenchman is a target for Madrid as they bid to capitalise on his contract expiring in 2026.
Joe Gomez’s future at Anfield has also been called into question, leaving the Reds with a potential exodus of centre-backs.
Meanwhile, for Leverkusen, ex-United boss Ten Hag is preparing for his first campaign in charge of the club.
He has already seen Jeremie Frimpong join Liverpool, with Wirtz also on his way to the Premier League.
The Dutchman has signed Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, along with Hertha’s Ibrahim Maza and Bochum’s Tim Oermann.
But now Quansah looks to be his latest signing this summer.
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