Liverpool could lose a number of high profile players over the coming weeks as they prepare to balance the books.
The Reds have done some heavy spending in the summer transfer window so far, and are now likely to focus on making a series of sales.
Part of that could be selling Harvey Elliott, who was relegated to a bit-part role during Arne Slot’s first season at Liverpool.
But after starting only two Premier League games throughout the campaign, Elliott has been shining for England at the European Under-21 Championship. After winning the tournament with England, the No. 19 was named Player of the Tournament,
This has led to concern amongst some areas of the fanbase that Liverpool may be about to make a costly mistake in letting Elliott go.
While some may now be feeling the 22-year-old leaving is an inevitability, though, there is still a world in which Slot keeps Elliott around next season.
Harvey Elliott celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Brighton in the Premier League at the Amex Stadium.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Harvey Elliott could still stay at Liverpool
Even before his star turn at this summer’s tournament, many supporters were not feeling good about selling Elliott.
Nevertheless, with only 360 Premier League minutes under his belt, and Liverpool likely to bag around £45m for Elliott, selling him simply made sense.
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However, the youngster’s exploits with England have really hammered home just what he can offer to the Reds next season.
As an attacking midfielder, Elliott looked like a clear loser from Florian Wirtz’s arrival, but that does not necessarily have to be the case.
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With Dominik Szoboszlai also still to think about, it is not a given that Slot deploys Wirtz in his most advanced midfield position.
The German has played a lot coming off the left hand side and there is a chance the Liverpool head coach sees this as being his best position.
If that is the case, and Wirtz has been signed to be Slot’s main option on the left, then Elliott can still battle it out with Szoboszlai for the No. 10 role.
Elliott redemption must see Luis Diaz leave
Some may argue that even if Slot did see Wirtz as a left-sider, Elliott was fighting with Szoboszlai last season and barely got a look in. It may not be enough for the former Fulham talent again.
However, that would ignore that Elliott was also injured for a large chunk of last season and was barely available for selection up until December. Had he been fit, he would certainly have played more.
The crux of this being a possibility, though, lies in Wirtz as well as Liverpool’s current left-sided options. If both Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo remain in the squad, for example, there is no way Wirtz has been earmarked for that position.
As a result, we think the key to Elliott’s future could lie in the future of Diaz. If the Colombian leaves, it might well benefit his younger teammate.
There have been suggestions that Al Nassr are ready to bid £73m for Diaz, an offer which Liverpool would surely see as being attractive. Should they accept and lose their No. 7, it could be just the chink of light Elliott needs to justify giving it one more shot at Anfield.
If Diaz stays, or another new attacking signing arrives, there is little argument to be had; Elliott is going to go.