Important Liverpool decision impacts Bristol Rovers transfer business

Jarell Quansah has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool after he returned from his loan at Bristol Rovers.

Quansah has yet to make a competitive appearance for the Reds, but are said to have been impressed by how he conducted himself during his loan spell at the Memorial Stadium. He has returned to Anfield where he will train, but will not be eligible for their remaining matches against Leicester City, Aston Villa and Southampton.

The 20-year-old spent his first time away from Merseyside, and made 16 appearances for the Gas in League One. He only missed three matches since joining in January and that was because of a suspension after a red card against Portsmouth.

His new contract with Liverpool marks a successful couple of days, after he was included in the England Under-20 squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup, which takes place in Argentina later this month. Quansah has been called up alongside Bristol City star Alex Scott, and the Young Three Lions play Tunisia on May 22, Uruguay on May 25, and then round off their group against Iraq on May 28.

Liverpool have not released the duration of his new deal, but his previous contract with the Premier League outfit was expected to run out next summer. Their decision to give him a new deal could hint that they have plans for him, and he could be given an opportunity in pre-season. He was part of their warm weather training camp in December before being allowed to leave on loan after Joey Barton personally scouted him.

Barton has always had a preference in wanting to work again with loan players for that continuity, but has been accepting that it is not his decision to make.

“I think Jarrell has done well stepping in Bobby’s shoes albeit he came into a tricky spell with the team,” said the 40-year-old when summarising his time at the club.

“Jarell’s come in and learned what he needs to learn.”

“We’ll have a chat with them lads, they’ve been really good characters and good lads, so we’ve got a years or six months of work in to them if we can get them back I’d be open to explore that and give them continuity that you lose with the loan market. If we can convert a few of them into permanents, I’d definitely explore that option.

“They’re not our players and it will depend on what they do with their parent clubs, but again I can’t fault the lads. Some loan lads toss it off because they know they’re going back, but absolutely not one of our lads have done that. There are bits they could be better at but they’ve been first class.”