The ECHO's Liverpool writers take a closer look at what the future might have in store for England Under-21 hero Harvey Elliott
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot embraces Harvey Elliott last season
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot embraces Harvey Elliott last season(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Captain Harvey Elliott was England's hero this week when he fired home two goals to see off Netherlands to secure a place in the European Under-21s Championship final. The Young Lions are looking to retain the trophy they won two years ago and the Liverpool midfielder has been a shining light for Lee Carsley's side throughout.
Never more so than when his mazy dribble took him to the edge of the Oranje Jong box before he rifled home the winning goal after earlier seeing his opener cancelled out by Noah Ohio's opportunistic finish.
Elliott took on the skipper's armband after James McAtee of Manchester City had been substituted and the Reds starlet stepped up with a massive winner to send his side through to their second successive Euros final, where they will now meet Germany on Saturday night.
At club level, though, Elliott's status is much less certain. The arrival of Florian Wirtz, at a club-record £116m, further increases the competition for a player who made only two Premier League starts last time out, both after the title had been won by Arne Slot's side.
His international exploits, however, have been a timely reminder of his qualities and while the former Fulham youngster was candid enough to admit he doesn't want to 'waste years of his career' warming the bench earlier in the U21s tournament, it is still unclear what the future holds for the 22-year-old.
Here, the ECHO's Reds writers have had their say on what is emerging into an intriguing transfer subplot this summer.
Paul Gorst
Having barely featured for Liverpool last season as they cantered to the Premier League title by 10 points, Harvey Elliott has refused to let inaction affect his performances on England duty.
The 22-year-old's impressive brace against the Netherlands was enough to see the Young Lions into the final of European Under-21 Championship, where they will meet Germany in a bid to retain the trophy they lifted two years ago.
As a result, Elliott's long-term future may not be at the forefront of his own mind this week as he gears up for Saturday's final but a post-tournament decision is surely due.
Does Elliott hunker down in the belief that he can feature more next season? Or does the arrival of Florian Wirtz further limit the minutes for the former Fulham youngster?
A full and uninterrupted pre-season programme will be important for Elliott once he returns from his post-Euros break, which is no doubt well earned, but the ball remains in his court.
Liverpool are unlikely to push him towards the exit door and Elliott might well back himself to feature more given Arne Slot might have learned a lot about using the full remit of his Reds squad more next term.
Having said that, the comment about not wanting to 'waste years of his career' recently were telling and it feels as though the club-record deal for Wirtz might have led to some soul searching for Elliott.
Liverpool will likely have a number of clubs beating down their door if Elliott does agitate to move but that will come with a heavy heart. For now, the Euros occupy his mind but a major career choice is heading his way this summer, one way or another.
Theo Squires
It very much comes down to head against heart when weighing up Harvey Elliott's future.
The 22-year-old was on the fringes during Arne Slot's first season at Liverpool, and with the Reds having just spent a club-record £116m on Florian Wirtz, logically it is difficult to see how his prospects can improve much in the upcoming campaign.
But he was unfortunate last year with injury ruling him out early on, and the midfielder then taking time to get back up to speed at a time when Liverpool were in their best moment of the season. So it comes down to the boyhood Reds fan's own desires.
If he decides one season on the sidelines is enough and wants to pursue starting opportunities elsewhere, no-one would begrudge him a move. He would depart as a Premier League champion, and as a player who has given absolutely everything every single time he pulled on the shirt he loves.
But if he wants to fight for his place, with a fresh season offering a fresh start, he should be given the opportunity to do so too.
He has shown time and again he is a game-changing player. He always makes things happen in the final third and his work-rate is superb. Capable of lining up in a number of positions, he is a player Liverpool are fortunate to have.
Wirtz will be a tough player to usurp, but if Elliott has a strong pre-season, there is perhaps hope that Slot will have learned lessons from his first campaign and might just trust his full squad a little more next season and rotate accordingly. Especially around those Champions League league phase games.
But if it is going to be a case of as you were, trusting the same 14-15 players game after the game with the rest left on the fringes, it would be best for all parties if Elliott moved on. Liverpool can demand a good fee for him if so.
There is a place for him at Anfield this season. But whether it is one that he will be satisfied with remains to be seen.