Harvey Elliott leaving Liverpool would be no surprise – the fee would be

After a summer in which his future has been an intriguing sub-plot to the Alexander Isak saga, news that Harvey Elliott could be on the verge of leaving Anfield comes as little surprise. 

Isak’s arrival on Merseyside for a medical in advance of a British record £125m transfer from Newcastle United appears to have been the final straw for the 22-year-old playmaker, who is reportedly in advanced talks with Aston Villa over a deadline-day loan move with an obligation to buy next summer.

Elliott was characteristically focused as he warmed up on the touchline during Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Sunday, acknowledging the applause of supporters before throwing himself into the all-too-familiar routine of readying himself for a call that would never come. 

Instead, it was Federico Chiesa who came off the bench as a late replacement for Hugo Ekitike, just as the Italian was the preferred attacking replacement on the opening day against Bournemouth and the following week at Newcastle, where Elliott was limited to a one-minute run-out.

That fleeting appearance, alongside a six-minute cameo in Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace, represents a meagre return for a player who was central to England’s European Under-21 Championship victory this summer.

Clearly Elliott needs game time, and leaving Liverpool seems the only way to achieve that. But while a move feels inevitable, what is perhaps surprising is that he seems likely to remain in the Premier League despite suggestions earlier this month of an impending move to RB Leipzig, with whom he reportedly agreed terms.

Unexpected fee

Equally unexpected is the likely fee, understood to be in the region of £35m – significantly below Liverpool’s original valuation of £50m for a permanent move with no buy-back option.

Villa’s need for greater creativity has been thrown into stark relief in their three Premier League outings so far this season, with the club securing just one point after failing to find the net against Newcastle, Brentford and Crystal Palace.

Unai Emery’s side are alone across England’s top four leagues in failing to score this season, and Villa’s simultaneous pursuit of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, also on loan, underscores where the Spaniard’s priorities lie. 

Villa have seen midfielders Jacob Ramsey, Leander Dendoncker and Enzo Barrenechea depart this summer, while bringing in Ivory Coast forward Evann Guess and Dutch international goalkeeper Marco Bizot. 

The club has also confirmed the deadline-day signing of former Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof on a free transfer.

What has Harvey Elliott said about leaving Liverpool?

If Elliott does leave Liverpool, for whom he has scored 15 goals in 149 appearances, the lifelong Liverpool fan will no doubt do so with a heavy heart.

“If I had it my way, I would be [with Liverpool] for the rest of my career, it’s as simple as that,” he said during the club’s summer tour in Hong Kong. “I love everything about the club, but at the same time I kind of need to be selfish and see what’s best for me. 

“I have big ambitions. I want to get in the [England] World Cup squad. I want to keep being successful as a player.”

But with his hopes of realising those ambitions further away than ever following the summer arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and now Isak, a move now seems the only viable option for Elliott.