Virgil van Dijk’s future was shrouded in uncertainty when a Liverpool centre-back signed a new, long-term contract. Not the captain, but the man who could have been shaping up as his successor. It was Jarell Quansah and it was as recently as October.
Even for clubs that plans as well as Liverpool, things can change. Now Quansah is Bayer Leverkusen’s record signing. Liverpool rebuffed interest in him last summer but, a year on, accepted a bid of £30m that, given add-ons, may well rise to £35m. Quansah may yet end up as Liverpool’s future – they inserted a buy-back clause – but it is less likely now.
