Transfers
Liverpool’s Elliott faces make-or-break weeks under Iraola
Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott future remains one of the more intriguing storylines of the summer transfer window, with the next few weeks set to be decisive.
Liverpool’s new head coach, Andoni Iraola, has not yet reached a final decision on the 23-year-old’s future. Instead, preseason could become Elliott’s biggest opportunity yet. Speaking to Trev Downey, journalist David Lynch discussed Elliott’s position as Liverpool weigh up their midfield options ahead of a crucial preseason.
Lynch explained that Iraola’s approach would allow him to assess Elliott first hand before determining whether he remains part of the club’s plans. “I understand it in terms of his future, the idea was and is to kind of bring him back into preseason and then start to deal with that,” Lynch said.
Lynch acknowledged Elliott’s difficult campaign, noting how a combination of misfortune and limited opportunities had affected both his performances and perceived market value. “Last season was a nightmare, but he’s a good player,” Lynch said. Rather than suggesting Liverpool are actively looking to move him on, he pointed towards continued interest from elsewhere.
“There’s potentially an opening there for Liverpool to really have a look at him in a real, let’s say, look, I want to keep this guy around,” Lynch said. That opportunity could become even more valuable given the physical demands expected under Iraola. “I think the style of football is very intense,” Lynch said, highlighting the need for squad depth.
Lynch also made it clear that another pathway remains open. “What’s his level looking like? Is he capable of playing fifty and twenty games for us in a season, maybe not all starts, or do we need to get him out on loan?” For Lynch, that remains the central question. Liverpool appear ready to assess where Elliott fits within Iraola’s plans before reaching a conclusion.
Lynch addressed speculation linking Elliott with a permanent move. “This talk of a permanent, and certainly at that fee, I think if someone came in with a permanent and it was crazy money, then yeah, absolutely maybe Liverpool would consider it because they consider it for most players at that price, but not for those sorts of sums,” he said. That suggests Liverpool are not actively pursuing a sale.