Harvey Elliott Contemplates Liverpool Exit: 3 Possible Destinations

Toward the end of the 2023-2024 season, when injuries had shredded Liverpool’s first team to its bare bones, Harvey Elliott stepped in. He, along with a bunch of other Melwood products, stepped up in a major way, helping the Reds win their only piece of silverware, the EFL Cup. But after ensuring Jürgen Klopp ended his tenure with a trophy, those bright prospects melted back into the shadows.    

Justified Apprehensions

Elliott made a total of 18 appearances last season, 16 of which were as a substitute. Perhaps it was the arrival of the new manager that curtailed the progress of a player who seemed destined for more first-team action. The 22-year-old is not keen on hanging around to see if Arne Slot will have a bigger role for him next season. “I don’t really want to be wasting years [of] my career because it’s a short career. You don’t know what’s going to happen,” he admitted recently.

The midfielder is right to be apprehensive about his future at Anfield. He has been there since 2019 and has had to be content with appearances in the dying minutes of games. Speaking from the England U-21 camp, Elliott hinted that he should be making inroads into the senior squad by now. That won’t happen with Slot deploying him so sparingly. 

He may be comparing himself to a certain similarly left-footed midfielder who’s been lighting up the Camp Nou, helping Barcelona win its 28th La Liga title. A key member of the La Roja squad that was mixing it up with Cristiano Ronaldo at the Nations League final a few days ago. If he is indeed using 17-year-old Lamine Yamal as a yardstick, Elliott is justified in feeling that he’s whiling away his best years on the Liverpool bench.

Viable Options

If he’s to make good on his desire to seek regular first-team football away from Liverpool, Elliott will need to weigh his options carefully. Should he move to another top-six Premier League club and risk being a bit-part player for the chance to play in Europe? Or should he lend his talents to a smaller club where he’s sure to get game time? Or should he pull a Mason Greenwood and ply his trade in another less illustrious league? 

Here are some clubs where he can make an impact without jeopardizing his national team chances.

Bournemouth:

The Cherries can use a dynamic, left-footed midfielder with a good work rate. He would slot in nicely on the right side of that front four next to Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert. And they wouldn’t have to break the bank to get him on their roster, given that Elliott is not a full international and is desperate for on-field minutes. Plus, he’s the kind of youthful, hardworking player that Andoni Iraola has made a career out of molding. 

Brentford:

The departure of Bryan Mbuemo has left an Elliott-shaped vacuum on the right side of the Brentford attack. Like the Cameroonian, Elliott is in the habit of driving up that flank, jinking inwards and letting off left-foot rockets. There are a few kinks Coach Thomas Frank or his successor, will need to iron out, but it’s nothing a consistent run of games can’t cure. Not having to cope with the big-club expectations at Liverpool will allow the Englishman to unleash his creative potential. 

Napoli:

Why not pull a Scott McTominay and join the Italian champions, Harvey? Think about it. You’d be a natural replacement for the aging Matteo Politano on the right side of Conte’s front three. You’d have English-speaking mates in McTominay and Billy Gilmour to ease you into the new environment. You’d have a shot at regular Champions League football, which should boost your Three Lions chances. And the opportunity to hone your craft under the revered Antonio Conte. I hear Italian cuisine isn’t bad either.