Arne Slot may already be targeting ‘fantastic’ player’s replacement at Liverpool after Chelsea debacle

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Liverpool lost against Chelsea on Sunday as they failed to underline their status as newly-crowned champions.

The Reds did not need anything from the game having already won the Premier League, but it’s never nice to lose.

With nothing on the line, Arne Slot chose to field a number of fringe members of the Liverpool squad in order to reward their patience across the season.

Jarell Quansah was one of those to come in having only started two previous matches in the Premier League in 2024/25.

But Quansah has had a difficult season and with an own goal and a penalty conceded to his name, the 22-year-old did nothing to help his cause on Sunday.

In fact, with the summer transfer window fast approaching, it looks possible that Slot and the Liverpool recruitment team are already targeting Quansah’s replacement.

Jarell Quansah’s Liverpool career could be over

Quansah was not all bad against Chelsea. There were moments where the young defender did well and showed why he’s earned his first-team status at Anfield.

However, in the big moments of the match, Quansah seemed to fall to pieces.

Just as was the case after scoring an own goal against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, the centre-back’s confidence looked shot from the moment Virgil van Dijk blasted the ball against him to put Chelsea 2-0 up.

There was no need for Quansah to dive in on Moises Caicedo, for example, in the dying seconds of the game. Cole Palmer’s penalty allowed Chelsea to put gloss on a scoreline they perhaps didn’t deserve.

READ MORE: What we learned about Liverpool’s fringe players during Chelsea loss as Arne Slot proven right about £45m man

The sight of Quansah on his haunches after taking Caicedo down gave the impression of a young man who is slightly out of his depth.

While nobody should be giving up on the Liverpool academy graduate just yet, it’s becoming clear that a career at Anfield may be just beyond his capabilites.

Liverpool pushing for Dean Huijsen deal

Last summer, the thought of Liverpool selling Quansah was somewhat unthinkable. Newcastle tried to prise him away, but the Reds were having none of it.

But there have been suggestions that Newcastle are still keen on Quansah and if the Magpies come again this time, you’d imagine the conversation could be different.

Part of the reason for that is Liverpool’s interest in Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen. Huijsen is available for £50m this summer and it’s clear the Reds are readying a proper push to sign him.

With other clubs very much still in the mix, Liverpool may or may not buy Huijsen. But their interest alone suggests bad news for Quansah.

If the Spaniard does ultimately arrive, it will make performances like the one Quansah put in on Sunday look all the more costly. He had a big chance at Liverpool, but this season has not been a good one.

Quansah is still a ‘fantastic’ talent and should be proud of what he’s achieved at Anfield, but it’s starting to feel like the writing may soon be on the wall.