The U21 European Championship presented Harvey Elliott a perfect opportunity to showcase his talent after a season spent as a substitute. He has taken it with both hands, or more accurately, both feet.
The 22-year-old sent England soaring into Saturday’s final against Germany with two fine finishes – one with his right boot, the other with his left – to down the Dutch in baking hot Bratislava.
It was an inspirational performance from a player who has become a talisman for Lee Carsley. Elliott top-scored for the Young Lions in qualification with seven goals in as many games, and leads the charts at the tournament proper with four in five.
He has seized his chance to become England’s MVP following the ascension to the senior ranks of Carsley’s class of 2023: Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Gordon, all of whom started ahead of him against Spain in the final two summers ago.
There is an urgency in the way he plays the game; he quickens the pace, always playing forward and at speed. Perhaps it is borne out of a determination to be as integral to his club as he is to his country.
Elliott has been a valuable squad player at Liverpool since joining from Fulham two months after becoming the Premier League’s youngest-ever player.
But coming on as a sub to give Mo Salah’s burning calves a breather can’t carry on forever. Elliott needs games, even if getting them means leaving his beloved Reds.
“I’m coming into an age now where I’m 22 – I’m going to be 23 next season – and I don’t really want to be wasting years in my career because it’s a short career,” he said earlier this month.
“I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself and the best player I can be.
“And if that’s to go somewhere else, then it’s a decision that I’m going to have to make.”
Elliott was named man of the match in the semi-final (Photo: Getty)After only two Premier League starts under Arne Slot last season, surely the decision has already been made. His minutes at Anfield will surely decrease further following the arrival of Florian Wirtz for £116m from Bayer Leverkusen.
Elliott will have no shortage of clubs willing to offer a sales pitch off the back of his form in Slovakia this summer.
‘Teams around Europe will be interested’
“I love the kid, he plays football the right way,” former England winger Joe Cole said on Channel 4. “I’m really excited for him, not just for this final, but I’m excited for his future as well, for next year.
“I’d love to see him play with that kind of passion and happiness in his face every week.”
“He’s too good to not be playing,” Cole’s fellow pundit Jermain Defoe added. “He just needs to get out and play and get himself in a team where he’s one of the main players and show how good he is.”
When asked where Elliott could go, Cole replied: “Anyone outside the top six, he comfortably walks in and plays and becomes one of the main players.
“Then I think once he has two years at that level, he can come back to the very top at a club like Liverpool and compete.”
He added: “I think there will be teams all around Europe now looking for Harvey Elliott’s agent’s number and thinking he’s going to be right for them.”
There will be suitors home and abroad, but Liverpool are in a strong position to demand big money, given Elliott has two years remaining on his contract.
That could make a domestic move more likely, given the wealth that Premier League clubs have compared to most on the continent.
Brighton have been mentioned as a potential destination, and that move would make a lot of sense given their reputation for developing young talent and for playing intense, attacking football under Fabian Hurzeler.
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Ditto Bournemouth, who have furthered many careers, including for Liverpool’s benefit, with Hungarian left-back Milos Kerkez set to join for £40m. The Cherries may need to recruit a new right winger if Antoine Semenyo is sold.
A return to Fulham could be an option, although he has been booed by home fans at Craven Cottage when playing for Liverpool.
Elliott switched clubs before signing pro terms with the west London club, meaning Fulham only earned compensation (up to £4.3m) rather than a transfer fee for him.
If he were to move abroad, the Bundesliga could be a good landing spot. Bayer Leverkusen have cash burning a hole in their pockets after selling Wirtz and are already putting £30m forward for Elliott’s teammate Jarrell Quansah.
There were reports in Germany of Leverkusen cooling their interest in Elliott at the start of June; perhaps they may be tempted to reconsider their stance.
Borussia Dortmund could also be in the market for a wide player, with Englishman Jamie Gittens heavily linked with Chelsea.
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