Harvey Elliott has been tipped in some quarters to leave Liverpool this summer
(Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
The future of Harvey Elliott continues to be a talking point during the final month of the summer transfer window.
It looked for all the world as though the 23-year-old had closed the book on the Liverpool chapter of his career 11 months ago when he joined Aston Villa on an initial loan basis with a view to a permanent transfer.
However, having played just nine times under Unai Emery, he returned to his parent club and featured in all three of the Reds’ pre-season friendlies in the United States recently as he seeks to nail down a place in Andoni Iraola’s plans for the upcoming campaign, having been discarded by Arne Slot.
The Athletic reported earlier this week that Elliott ‘may need to move on’ from Liverpool soon for the betterment of his career, and former Everton CEO Keith Wyness hinted at the 23-year-old’s likeliest destination if he were to leave Anfield for good.
RB Leipzig named as ‘favourites’ to sign Elliott
Speaking about the Reds’ number 19 on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, he said: “Yeah, I think the bad blood is certainly enough to get him away from Liverpool, and I think, I’m afraid, [RB] Leipzig are the favourites from what I’ve heard.
“I think that’s where it will end up. There’s a possibility he’ll go to Leeds, but Leipzig are still the favourites, and I think if they can come to personal terms, that’s what would make it happen.
“Leeds is going to become an attractive option for a player like Harvey, but I think it might be good for him personally to get out of England.
“We’ve seen before that many players can do very well in Germany now, and the English players, more and more going out there, starting to realise that they’re really increasing their value.
“I think the Bundesliga would suit him in his style of play very well. I still rate him as a player, I’m amazed Liverpool did what they did, and I think they’re going to see him go on to be a very good asset for someone else.”
(Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
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Will Elliott stay or go this summer?
It was reported in early July that Elliott would ‘assess his options’ closer to the start of the season, and with that juncture now just a fortnight away, the 23-year-old is approaching a significant career crossroads.
Does he stay at Liverpool and fight for his place under Iraola, knowing that Mo Salah’s departure has potentially opened up an opportunity to start on the right flank; or does he seek to make a clean break from Anfield if his first-team chances continue to be limited?
After a write-off of a 2025/26 campaign, he needs to be playing regularly this season, and we wouldn’t blame him for making a selfish career decision if that’s what required.
We’d certainly love for Elliott to remain with the Reds and make a telling contribution under Iraola this term, and the lack of squad depth in the final third means that we could certainly do with keeping him in L4.
The remaining fixtures in August should offer a strong hint as to how highly he features in the new head coach’s plans, and we hope that the Basque will show him enough appreciation to persuade him to stay put and become an important figure for LFC in the coming months.