​Report: Liverpool have held talks to sign England World Cup starLiverpool Explore Jarell Quansah Return as Bayer Leverkusen Hold Firm on £68m ValuationLiverpool’s defensive planning has been pushed to the front of the agenda, and fresh reporting from Fussball Daten suggests the club have already taken a significant step in examining one possible solution, Jarell Quansah.The backdrop is clear. Andoni Iraola has inherited a situation that looks increasingly delicate at the back, with injuries affecting both the right side of defence and the centre. Conor Bradley’s long absence has left Liverpool short of a natural first-choice right-back, while the central options have also been reduced after Joe Gomez suffered another setback.As things stand, Virgil van Dijk remains the one established senior presence readily available, while younger options are being leaned on heavily during pre-season. That has naturally increased internal scrutiny on the market, especially when there are fitness concerns elsewhere and limited certainty over which returning players will be ready to contribute immediately when the Premier League campaign begins.Photo: IMAGOQuansah talks underline Liverpool transfer urgencyAgainst that context, the report states Liverpool have opened discussions over a move to bring Quansah back from Bayer Leverkusen only a year after his departure. The 22-year-old’s profile is easy to understand from Liverpool’s perspective. He offers centre-back cover, can operate at right-back, knows the club environment and would arrive without the adaptation period often attached to an external signing.According to the report, “Liverpool’s management has placed former player Jarell Quansah at the top of their list to bolster their defensive depth and secure defensive leadership for years to come.” It adds, “The club’s executives recently held direct talks with the player’s representatives and family.” The same report says, “During this closed-door meeting, his potential role in the Anfield project, the hierarchy within the squad, and his position in the defensive rotation were discussed in detail.”That level of detail points to more than a passing enquiry. It suggests Liverpool are mapping out squad structure as much as transfer feasibility, which is often the case when a player is already familiar with the expectations and pathways inside the club.Bayer Leverkusen stance complicates Liverpool transfer plansAny deal, however, appears far from straightforward. Fussball Daten indicates Leverkusen have taken a firm line, resisting the prospect of a conventional negotiation. The Bundesliga side are said to have shut down open-market discussions, leaving Liverpool to examine whether contractual mechanisms from the original sale offer a route back in.The report states, “However, the stance of German side Bayer Leverkusen, who have completely closed the door, suggests that the only way to resolve this transfer issue is through the buy-ba