Harvey Elliott is set to be handed a lifeline in his ailing Liverpool career, with the midfielder expected to be given a chance by new head coach Andoni Iraola.
Elliott had been frozen out under Arne Slot to the point of agreeing a £35 million move to Aston Villa last summer – but that switch has fallen through.
Having failed to meet the appearance threshold to make his loan deal permanent, the 23-year-old instead remains a Liverpool player.
While that may have been considered fatal prior to Slot’s sacking, the appointment of Iraola – who has pledged a clean slate to every player – may change things for Elliott.
Speaking on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, the Mail‘s Lewis Steele explained that the versatile midfielder is set to be given an opportunity on Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States.
“The word is just always ‘there’s a clean slate this summer’,” Steele said, having asked sources about Elliott’s situation.
“We don’t know what the manager wants, the manager’s going to have the chance to assess them.
“So I think in terms of a lot of the outgoings, whether that’s on loan or permanent, they’re going to be later in the window.
“I think Iraola’s going to want to have a look at Harvey Elliott. From what I’ve heard, he’s willing to give him a chance on the tour and then we’ll go from there.
“I think you can say the same about Trey [Nyoni], about the other youngsters that are knocking around the squad.”
Why Liverpool could struggle to sell Harvey Elliott
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
One of the obvious factors behind any decision over Elliott’s future is the scale of interest in the England U21 international.
Having only played nine times on loan at Villa, his value has almost certainly tanked, and Liverpool are unlikely to be in a position to demand the £35 million they agreed for his sale last summer.
RB Leipzig held an interest a year ago and had been mooted as a possible destination this transfer window, but Steele has downplayed links with a move to Germany.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I did check it out from the Leipzig end when I was doing the Diomande [background] and didn’t get much back in terms of Elliott,” he revealed.
“I don’t think that one’s a mover at the moment.
“Obviously they were linked with Elliott a lot last summer, but I think he’ll be given a chance in pre-season and then Liverpool will make calls from that point onwards.”