Jarell Quansah: Everything Jurgen Klopp said about 'ruthless' Arsenal target

Arsenal are reportedly interested in making a move for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah this summer.

The 23-year-old is seen both as cover for William Saliba's injury at centre-back and as a right-back, with both Jurrien Timber and Ben White having suffered frequent problems.

The German side are keen not to sell the England international this summer and are under no pressure to do so, after he only joined last summer in a £35million move from Liverpool.

The Reds will have an option to match Arsenal's fee for Quansah if they can agree one, and also have a £52m buyback option that comes into effect next summer.

The Gunners' top target for the defence has been Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa all summer, but the gap in valuations between the clubs is proving difficult to surpass.

Should Leverkusen ultimately demand a similar price tag - £60m - for Quansah, Arsenal may well move on a to a third target.

Jurgen Klopp loved Jarell Quansah

Quansah's breakthrough came in the 2023-24 season for Liverpool, with the young defender making 33 appearances across all competitions.

As injury struck Jurgen Klopp's defence, the academy youngster emerged to step in alongside Virgil van Dijk.

The end of the season saw him start six of eight Premier League games, scoring goals against Aston Villa and Wolves to end the campaign.

Speaking in December 2023 after a fine Quansah performance, Klopp said: "I think before this season a lot of people told us we should buy a centre-half.

"We knew we had Jarell. Did we know that he will show up like this? No, not exactly, but we were pretty hopeful, so the future is bright. It's cool.

"Our own boy, calm on the ball, good in the challenge, quick, ruthless in the right moments and besides Caoimhin [Kelleher], who had one or two saves, [he] probably had the most spectacular defensive situations when he saved our backside in some moments. So, that's really good. Top news for us."

Quansah looked to be the next big thing at Liverpool, but Arne Slot's appointment changed things completely.

The Dutchman clearly did not fancy the defender, playing him exclusively in the cup competitions aside from rare appearances in the Premier League that often came at right-back.

Quansah was sold in the summer of 2025, but could now be set to return to the Premier League with Arsenal.

The stats behind Quansah

Quansah's first season in Germany was slightly disrupted by injury, but it was a strong campaign for the defender.

The England international averaged 3.48 clearances, 3.83 recoveries, 1.09 tackles and 4.03 duels won per game in the Bundesliga, and was dribbled past just twice in 28 appearances.

Mikel Arteta also would have been able to see him first hand, when Arsenal played Leverkusen over two legs in the Champions League last 16.

Quansah would represent a different profile to Konsa for the Gunners, but he would aid all the same in their aims of bolstering the defence further.