Jarell Quansah is set to sign a new long-term contract as Liverpool open preliminary discussions with fellow defender Ibrahima Konate over his future.
Sporting director Richard Hughes has moved to reward Quansah’s impressive development since he broke into the first-team set-up last season.
The 21-year-old academy graduate, who has been with the club since the age of five, has clocked up 35 appearances for Liverpool. He previously signed a contract in May 2023 – three months before being handed his senior debut against Newcastle United.
Quansah’s outstanding form last season was rewarded with a call-up to England’s provisional squad for the Euros this summer before being omitted from the final 26-man list.
Newcastle United tried to sign him in June, valuing Quansah at £60 million ($78.6m) in a proposed arrangement that would have seen winger Anthony Gordon move to Anfield for £75m.
However, Liverpool made it clear that Quansah was simply not for sale and Newcastle focused their attention on £45m-rated Joe Gomez instead before pulling the plug when they managed to do other deals to raise the funds required to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Quansah’s new contract on improved terms reflects his status as an established member of Arne Slot’s squad.
Liverpool are also looking to get Konate tied down with initial talks having taken place with his representatives. The France international’s current deal runs until the summer of 2026.
Konate, 25, has made 99 appearances since arriving from RB Leipzig for £36m in 2021. He’s had some injury problems and lost his way towards the end of last season but has been a resurgent force under Slot.
Shining alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, Konate has been key to Liverpool setting the pace in the Premier League with just two goals conceded in seven matches so far this season.
Contract situations was one of the biggest issues Hughes inherited when he left Bournemouth to become Liverpool’s sporting director this summer.
Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all inside their final year and could potentially sign a pre-contract agreement with a club overseas from January 1. Dialogue with the representatives of those three players remains open and ongoing.
(Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images)
