Xavi Simons' future could have a significant bearing on the future of Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott, who is being linked with a move to RB Leipzig.
Elliott's Liverpool future is up in the air after a disappointing season on a personal level, which saw him fail to line up in a meaningful game in either the Premier League or the Champions League.
The 22-year-old's only two league starts came after the title had been wrapped up, while his only start in Europe was also in a dead rubber against PSV Eindhoven in January.
Liverpool's acquisition of Florian Wirtz is likely to see Elliott fall even further down the pecking order, and although he is a boyhood Reds fan, his career might be best served by a move away from Anfield.
The Athletic reports that Liverpool would want a fee of £40 million ($55 million) plus a buyback option for Elliott, or a fee of £50 million ($69 million) without one.
Elliott, who has two years remaining on his Liverpool contract, could move abroad, with Leipzig among the clubs interested in the England Under-21 star.
However, it is claimed that for Leipzig to get a deal done, the German club would first have to sell players, and Netherlands star Simons, who was previously targeted by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, is among those who could leave.
Simons, also 22, has asked to leave Leipzig this summer despite having only joined the club on a permanent transfer earlier this year.
Xavi Simons wants to leave Leipzig
Xavi Simons wants to leave Leipzig (Image: 2025 Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto)
Elliott admitted last month that the season had been difficult for him, after figuring for fewer than 900 minutes in all competitions over the course of the campaign.
"It's been hard with how much I've played," Elliott told Sky Sports after scoring in Liverpool's loss to Brighton. "I've tried as hard as I could and whatever happens, happens.
"It's about what's best for my career. It's about reflecting and seeing what I can do. I'm here at the moment and I'm focusing on the final game."
Slot addressed Elliott's struggles in May, explaining his thought process behind why the attacking midfieler wasn't getting many minutes.
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The start of the midfielder's season was interrupted by a foot fracture, and after he returned he failed to break back into the team.
Slot said: “I have mainly chosen other players, also in part because he was injured for a long time and, I have been honest with him, the first part after he came back from his injury he wasn't the same before his injury.
"But the last few months he is back to his old level again. There is no need for me to start with different players but I think if you look at the amount of minutes he has had in the last two months, and the months before, you can see it goes up already.
"That tells you that I like him more when he came back from his injury in the first months.”