Liverpool inserted a buyback clause into the deal that took Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, giving them the option to re-sign the defender for £55m. The clause was agreed as part of the transfer that saw the Warrington-born centre-back leave Anfield 12 months ago.
Quansah has flourished in the Bundesliga despite managerial changes at the BayArena, where he will soon play under his third manager, Carlos Martinez. The 22-year-old admitted in April that leaving Liverpool was an easy decision because he wanted regular first-team football.
The Reds are assessing their centre-back options after failing to agree a new contract with Ibrahima Konate, who is expected to leave as a free agent this summer, with Real Madrid tipped as his next destination. Liverpool have already invested nearly £90m in young defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, but both have question marks over fitness and experience.
Jacquet, a £60m signing from Rennes, is recovering from shoulder surgery, while Leoni is out with an ACL injury. The club may take an 'opportunistic' approach to further signings, and Quansah's buyback clause provides a potential solution.
