Exclusive: Liverpool get PSR benefit from Quansah sale despite UEFA wiping profits
UEFA will wipe the profits from Jarell Quansah’s sale to Bayer Leverkusen but Liverpool will still get a PSR benefit from the deal.
That is the view of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who exclusively told Football Insider that there were several factors behind the Reds’ decision to sell the young centre-back.
Football Insider revealed on 20 June that Quansah had agreed to personal terms with Leverkusen ahead of a record-breaking move to Germany.
Erik ten Hag’s side have agreed a £35million fee for Liverpool’s defender, eclipsing the club’s previous highest outlay of £27.3m [Kicker] for Karem Demirbay in 2019.
However, finance expert Stefan Borson then revealed on X that in all likelihood, the Premier League club would have the profits from Quansah’s sale wiped by UEFA, due to the governing body’s rules on player exchange after Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz swapped the BayArena for Anfield this summer.
Liverpool to still gain PSR benefits from Jarell Quansah sale
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, finance expert Plumley explained that whilst UEFA would wipe the profits from an FFP (financial fair play) standpoint, it would not apply to the Premier League’s PSR (profit and sustainability rules).
The senior lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University also pointed out that Liverpool’s focus likely would have been on Quansah’s development as a player, rather than the benefit to the accounting books, given their enviable financial position.
Plumley said when asked why the Reds would sell to Leverkusen, given UEFA would wipe the profits from the sale: “It’s an interesting question and I think there’s a couple of other factors that we probably need to look at.
“So the UEFA point is correct, UEFA will scratch that profit off in effect, so there’s no huge PSR benefit from that particular situation.
“The Premier League doesn’t operate in the same way that UEFA does in that regard, so there’s also Premier League PSR, which we know is in there as well where there’s going to be some benefit.
“There’s also the wider benefit of if he’s not in your plans, there’s a wage consideration that comes off the bottom line.
“You’ve got the new players coming in on, obviously, there’s a cost attached to those players and one outgoing for a fee means you’re looking at neutral benefit in terms of a player off the wage bill.
“I believe they’ve got a buy-back clause as well in the deal, so you’re setting that up for the future if that player can come back.”
Liverpool have Jarell Quansah replacement in Marc Guehi
Arne Slot’s centre-back situation looks set to be a tumultuous one over the coming seasons.
Liverpool are targeting a deal for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, as they look to replace Quansah.
However, the outgoing Reds centre-back will likely have a buy-back clause in his contract that could be exercised as early as next season.
That is because, with just a year remaining on his current deal, Real Madrid are keen on Ibrahima Konate.
The French centre-back would follow in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s footsteps and join Los Blancos upon the expiry of his contract.
A year playing first-team football with Leverkusen may be exactly what Quansah needs to develop into a Liverpool-quality defender.
Elsewhere at Anfield, Nick Woltemade will pass a medical with the Reds, Dr Rajpal Brar told Liverpool News.