Harvey Elliott's future remains the subject of speculation after the Liverpool midfielder shone for England Under-21s at the European Championships
Harvey Elliott could leave Liverpool this summer.
Harvey Elliott could leave Liverpool this summer.
(Image: Getty Images)
When Liverpool were poised to undergo a midfield revamp in the summer of 2023, all eyes were on the Under-21s European Championships. Ryan Gravenberch, Gabri Veiga, Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram were all on the Reds’ radar ahead of the tournament in Georgia and Romania along with Romeo Lavia, though he withdrew from the Belgium squad due to injury.
Yet come the close of the tournament, the best midfielder on show proved to be one of their own. Curtis Jones scored the winner in the final as England beat Spain, and was named in the team of the tournament after shining throughout for Lee Carsley’s young Lions.
Of course, that did little to deter Liverpool from their big-money midfield revamp.
A long-standing transfer target long before the European Championships, Gravenberch concluded the Reds’ business when arriving in a £40m switch from Bayern Munich at the end of August.
The Netherlands international joined Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo in making the move to Anfield as Liverpool committed to spending £151m on their new-look midfield.
Yet they would have happily forked out more, having had £111m and £60m bids accepted for Moises Caicedo and Lavia by Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton respectively only to see both midfielders sign for Chelsea.
Fast forward two years and the success of that Liverpool midfield revamp has never looked greater, with Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch all playing starring roles as the Reds won the Premier League.
But despite such a hefty outlay, that has not stopped Jones from playing a decisive role over the last two seasons.
Making 82 appearances, he has started 51 times in all competitions and returned eight goals and nine assists.
While not the first name on the teamsheet, Jones has proven to be a valuable squad player under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, capable of starting in any midfield role without a drop-off in quality. And his impressive performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere either, with the 24-year-old now a key player for the England senior team too.
Fast forward two years and history is repeating itself, with Liverpool once again boasting the latest star of the Under-21s European Championships.
Harvey Elliott was the undisputed star for the young Lions in Slovakia as they won the tournament for the second-successive time. The 22-year-old scored five times from six appearances, including the opener in the final as England beat Germany 3-2 AET, with such efforts seeing him named Player of the Tournament.
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre
But while Jones went into the 2023 edition of the tournament knowing Liverpool were in the process of revamping their midfield, Elliott’s own Anfield future is even more uncertain with the Reds having already made a significant statement in his position.
Liverpool completed the club-record signing of Florian Wirtz in a deal worth up to £116m last month, with the 22-year-old only increasing the competition for places in Elliott’s favoured positions.
With both Mohamed Salah and Szoboszlai in front of him in the pecking order on the right wing and at number 10 respectively last season, he only started twice in the Premier League. And both of them came after the Reds had already won the Premier League title.
Add Wirtz to the mix and Elliott’s prospects admittedly look bleaker - which is something the player himself appears aware of.
Speaking exclusively to the ECHO back in April, the midfielder was determined to fight for his Anfield future and push on at his boyhood club.
But fast forward to the eve of the European Championships, with Liverpool now moving for Wirtz, he admitted he might have to consider his future and did not want to be ‘wasting years of his career’ on the bench.
Consequently, the midfielder has a difficult decision to make about his future this summer. And with Elliott not due to report back for pre-season until prior to Liverpool’s tour of Asia at the end of July after his international exploits, he has time to ponder what’s best.
On one hand, his efforts were not aided last year by a fractured foot suffered in August that ruled him out until December, with the 22-year-old taking time to get up to speed and regain form.
But having caught Slot’s eye in the final weeks of the season, he went to the European Championships eager to prove a point after a season of limited game-time. He will now report back for pre-season full of confidence and hungry to show himself once again.
With Salah due to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations in December too, and Szoboszlai being considered for a deeper midfield role as well as at number 10, it is plausible further opportunities could be on offer in the season ahead - especially after actually shining on the right wing for England Under-21s.
But whether that is enough for Elliott to stick around remains to be seen. Likewise, Liverpool will be aware that the midfielder’s stock is currently the highest it has been all season after his exploits in Slovakia. They will not be able to say the same later in the season if his game-time is again limited.
It could admittedly be the right time for a parting of ways for all parties. And no-one would begrudge Elliott an exit if he did wish to pursue starting status elsewhere.
But having seen Jones continue to stake his own claim against the odds despite mass Reds investment after his own starring role at the European Championships two years ago, Elliott at least does not have to look far for the perfect example to follow, should he opt to stay put and fight for his Liverpool future.