Not only has Arne Slot won the Premier League title with much the same group that Jurgen Klopp had, he has done so while barely utilizing one of the former manager’s favorites. Harvey Elliott has been a bit-part figure in this campaign, and could now be available in the transfer window.
While in many ways it makes Slot’s achievement all the more impressive, it is a shame to see Elliott sidelined in this manner. He had taken on more responsibility than ever in his final season under Klopp, and looked well-placed to kick on again as a key component of the team moving forward.
Still just 22, his potential remains sky-high. And while Dominik Szoboszlai has given Slot precious little reason to make adjustments to his side, it is hard to shake the feeling that Liverpool would be taking a big risk by letting Elliott go anywhere this summer.
His departure is far from a foregone conclusion. Liverpool is not actively interested in selling Elliott, but there is an acceptance that the midfielder has legitimate concerns over his game time.
Slot insists that he still rates Elliott highly, ascribing his limited opportunities to the form of others, and his struggles to get back up to full speed after an injury. But it would be a big leap of faith for the youngster to take that at face value.
Should Elliott decide that a move is in his best interests, it’s thought that Liverpool would reluctantly sanction it — at the right price. And that price has now been set.
According to talkSPORT, Liverpool values Elliott “in excess” of $53 million (£40 million). Even that seems on the low side.
However, it would be quite the profit on the initial $2 million (£1.5 million) it paid in compensation to Fulham. The $3.75 million (£2.8 million) in performance add-ons have surely now been activated, but Liverpool could make roughly a 10x profit regardless.
And Wolves has been named as a suitor. Considered a relegation candidate for much of this season, it has been upwardly mobile under Vitor Pereira, and is now mulling its options to kick on again next season.
(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The expected departure of Matheus Cunha will equip Wolves with a healthy budget. “Several” Premier League clubs are thought to be tracking Elliott, but this is his first named potential landing spot in the event he decides to leave Liverpool.
Would it be a good fit? Pereira operates with something akin to twin number 10s, so there would certainly be pockets of space in which Elliott could thrive.
Minutes would also presumably be all but assured, especially in the event that Elliott arrived after Cunha departed. They are far from the same kind of player, but the Brazilian has been playing in one of those roles recently, behind the in-form Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Whether Elliott needs that change of environment in order to reset his Premier League career is the big question. The Liverpool squad would be weaker for losing him — but at the same time, if Slot is not minded to play him, then the Reds might as well cash in.
One way or another, it’s one of the biggest Liverpool transfer stories to watch this summer. Meanwhile, Elliott will hope to use the final three games of this season to make an impression; whether that’s on Slot or potential suitors like Pereira and Wolves, only time will tell.
