Liverpool should do the unthinkable in the transfer market after shock £35m sale

Liverpool's busy summer continues apace as the Reds revamp their squad ahead of the new season. The Premier League champions have already signed Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m from Bayer Leverkusen, as well as goalkeeper Armin Pesci for £1.5m to join fellow stopper Giorgi Mamardashvilli, whose £29m move from Valencia was arranged last summer.

Florian Wirtz will follow in a stunning deal from Leverkusen that could end up being worth a British record £116m and an agreement has been struck with Bournemouth for Liverpool to sign Milos Kerkez for £40m.

But that's not all. Leverkusen are back in negotiations with Liverpool to sign centre-back Jarell Quansah for £35m in a deal that could pave the way for the Reds to add a defender to their squad this summer.

Marc Guehi is a target, should the Reds negotiate an acceptable fee with Crystal Palace, but who else could fall on their radar? Our writers have their say...

Paul Gorst

The wisdom of selling Jarell Quansah without having an obvious replacement lined up is questionable. But given the success of the last year under the stewardship of Arne Slot and Richard Hughes, the Reds have earned the trust on this one.

Marc Guehi, of Crystal Palace, is a player of interest but at the age of 25 next month, any deal with the Eagles would have to be of a cut-price nature given he is inside the final year of his terms at Selhurst Park.

Liverpool are prioritising a defender of a younger profile but what is now a long-term search for someone to take Virgil van Dijk's mantle in the coming years has so far proven fruitless.

The latest of those was Dean Huijsen, who joined Real Madrid from Bournemouth when his £50m release clause was triggered. So it's clear, the Reds are looking for someone ready-made who can start now and eventually become a talisman at the back.

Perhaps, then, this is a search that need only take them a few miles down the road to the Hill Dickinson Stadium? The idea of the Reds pursuing Jarrad Branthwaite might be nails on the chalkboard for those of an Everton persuasion, but Liverpool shouldn't let city rivalries stand in their way if they feel the England international is the right man.

Talks over a new deal has started for Branthwaite, as our ECHO colleagues reported this week, but having been the subject of Manchester United affection last year, a move from the champions would be bold.

It's the sort of audacious and proactive swoop that those looking to continue as the top dogs should be looking at. Branthwaite, who turns 23 later this month, ticks all the boxes of that aforementioned young centre-back profile.

Theo Squires

This year is the third successive summer Liverpool have looked to strengthen their hand at centre-back. But having failed to land their desired targets in the past, namely Levi Colwill and Leny Yoro, the departure of Jarell Quansah will force their hand that little bit more this year to replenish Arne Slot's hand.

In truth, the presence of Quansah has been why the Reds have been able to persist with their current options when left disappointed in the transfer market in each of the last two summers.

While Liverpool remain in the market for a young centre-back with a high ceiling, they are ultimately cashing in on the potential they already had within their ranks.

There is nothing wrong with that. While Quansah was highly-rated and had been previously tipped as a possible long-term successor for Virgil van Dijk, it has been a difficult season for him.

He lost his place at the beginning of the campaign and struggled to regain form. If he was to remain on the fringes in the upcoming season, a move to Leverkusen is arguably best for all parties.

So Liverpool now have two choices. Pursue their next highly-rated centre-back with bags of potential, or instead sign a more polished option whose peak years are still ahead of him.

There is a market opportunity to sign Marc Guehi, given his expiring contract status, and he would fall into the latter category. If he is happy to compete with Ibrahima Konate to start alongside Van Dijk, he would be a very good addition.

Alternatively, if looking towards a younger model, what about Jorrel Hato of Ajax. The highly-rated 19-year-old can play at either centre-back or left-back, has been linked with the Reds for a number of months, and could add to the already strong Dutch contingent at Anfield.

Or, on the more unrealistic scale, maybe Liverpool could instead try their luck to lure Pau Cubarsi away from Barcelona. Still only 18 years old, the Spain international is one of the very best up and coming centre-backs in world football.

With the Catalans' financial woes well-documented - along with their interest in Luis Diaz - perhaps there is an opportunity for Liverpool to take advantage of one of European football's biggest giants.

Joe Rimmer

Liverpool are showing a ruthlessness in moving on Jarell Quansah this summer, with the 22-year-old having shown his potential over the past two years since breaking into the team under Jurgen Klopp.

The truth is, though, that Quansah struggled at times last season and it's clear that Arne Slot sets the very highest standards. So if the Reds feel like they are getting value for money, so be it.

And yet he will need replacing. Liverpool have paid the price for leaving themselves short in that position before and they will be targeting someone with huge potential as a result.

It's why they are monitoring Marc Guehi and his signing would prove to be a coup. But they shouldn't stop there.

Murillo at Nottingham Forest is an exceptional centre-back, though perhaps better suited to their style of play than Liverpool's and, had he not suffered so many injuries last season, Tottenham's Micky van de Ven is another player with a huge upside and at the right age bracket.

The dream - or nightmare depending on which way you look at it - for Liverpool would be for them to do the unthinkable, though, and try to convince Jarrad Branthwaite to cross the park.

The defender is currently in negotiations with Everton over a new deal but with nothing yet signed, perhaps Liverpool should test the waters and see what response they get. Another other than "do one" is a good start.

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