Arsenal are currently engaged in negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen regarding a potential transfer for England international defender Jarell Quansah. Manager Mikel Arteta has expressed a clear desire to broaden his defensive options, and he regards Quansah as an attractive prospect because of his ability to operate both as a centre‑back and as a right‑back.
Quansah returned to the German side after a lengthy pause following his World Cup debut, during which he earned three caps for the Three Lions. In his inaugural season in the Bundesliga he featured 44 times, having opted to leave his boyhood club Liverpool in the summer of last year. The defender now has four years left on his contract with Leverkusen, which means any club interested in signing him will likely have to meet a price well above the €30 million (£30 million) that the German outfit paid for his services in July.
According to Sky Germany, Bayer Leverkusen do not view Quansah as a player they are prepared to sell at this stage. Adding another layer of complexity, Liverpool inserted a buy‑back clause into the agreement when they allowed Quansah to move to Leverkusen.
That clause is reportedly valued at roughly £59.8 million (€70 million), giving the Reds a potential future pathway back to the player. Arsenal’s interest does not stop with Quansah. The Gunners have also been linked with Aston Villa centre‑back Ezri Konsa, who, like Quansah, can cover both central and wide defensive positions.
Sky Sports reports a significant valuation gap between Arsenal and Villa for Konsa. The Midlands club is said to be seeking around £60 million for the 28‑year‑old, who still has two years remaining on his contract. So far Arsenal have not signalled a willingness to meet that figure, leaving the decision squarely in the club’s hands to persuade Villa to let go of their defender. Konsa missed Villa’s recent UEFA Super Cup fixture against Paris Saint‑Germain because he is still on his post‑World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s defensive roster is under pressure. With William Saliba sidelined through injury, the Gunners need reliable cover at centre‑back, and the right‑back spot has also been a recurring problem. Jurrien Timber is still recovering from a groin issue that has kept him largely out of action since March, and Ben White’s injury record remains a concern.
In the Champions League final, Cristian Mosquera was forced to start at right‑back and even conceded a penalty in Budapest, underscoring the need for a specialist in that role. Arteta’s tactical setup further explains why a player like Quansah is appealing. While Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are often asked to invert and operate as hybrid centre‑forwards, Arteta has also demonstrated a willingness to employ more traditional, defensively‑solid full‑backs, as he did with former Leverkusen player Piero Hincapié.
Quansah, a natural centre‑back, was deployed on the right side of a back three at Leverkusen last season, a position that earned him a call‑up as a right‑back for England under Thomas Tuchel, even ahead of established Premier League talent Trent Alexander‑Arnold. Analyzing his passing map for Leverkusen shows that Quansah frequently occupied the right‑back zone, meaning he is comfortable both defending wide and contributing to build‑up play.
Should Saliba return to full fitness and resume his partnership with Gabriel Jesus at centre‑back, Quansah would likely compete for the right‑back slot, offering Arteta a versatile option. Beyond the immediate transfer speculation, Arsenal’s upcoming schedule adds urgency to any defensive reinforcement.
The Gunners will open the season with the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16 in Cardiff, followed by a Premier League home clash with Coventry on August 21. Their calendar then includes fixtures against Aston Villa (August 31), Chelsea (September 6), Sunderland (September 12), and Brighton (September 19). A robust defensive line‑up will be crucial to navigate this demanding early‑season run. In summary, Arsenal are actively pursuing Jarell Quansah, a young English defender who brings positional flexibility and Premier League experience from his time at Liverpool.
While Leverkusen appear reluctant to let him go and a substantial buy‑back clause benefits Liverpool, the Gunners see Quansah as a long‑term solution to multiple defensive gaps. At the same time, interest in Ezri Konsa persists, though the price tag set by Aston Villa may prove prohibitive. With key defenders injured and a congested fixture list looming, Arteta’s window to strengthen his back line is narrowing, and the outcome of these negotiations could shape Arsenal’s defensive stability for the season ahead.