Liverpool to Trigger Quansah Buyback Clause Amid Centre-Back Shortage
Liverpool are facing a centre-back shortage less than a month out from the start of the Premier League season, with Joe Gomez and new arrival Jeremy Jacquet nursing minor injuries, Giovanni Leoni recovering from a ruptured ACL, and Virgil van Dijk yet to return from his post-World Cup break.
The Reds fielded an 18-year-old duo, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, as the centre-back partnership for most of the 4-2 win over Sunderland last weekend. However, Ndukwe will have to go out on loan as he doesn't qualify for a UK work permit.
Liverpool have a buyback clause for Jarell Quansah, who left for Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last July. The clause is set at £70m, although it will decrease to £52m from next summer.
The Reds are understood to have no current plans to activate the buyback clause, despite their centre-back shortage. According to Aadam Patel, writing for BBC Sport, 'They have a buyback clause with Jarell Quansah, who left for Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last July, but there are no current plans for Quansah to return.'
The reason for this reluctance may be the fact that the buyback clause is set at £70m, twice what Leverkusen paid to sign Quansah a year ago. This may be a significant factor in the decision not to bring the 23-year-old back to Merseyside.
It's also worth noting that Quansah has been enjoying regular game-time at Leverkusen, which has helped him get into Thomas Tuchel's squad for the World Cup. The England international has said that he's 'started loving football again' since leaving Liverpool.
Liverpool's centre-back depth is indeed threadbare, and it's hard to blame the club for wanting to save on £18m by not triggering the buyback clause. However, if there's a recognition behind the scenes that trying to persuade Quansah to return would be a futile venture, that'd be easier to justify in their current predicament.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will change their stance and trigger the buyback clause to bring Quansah back to Merseyside. The Reds will have to make a decision soon, with the start of the Premier League season just around the corner.
Source: Yahoo Sports
