Harvey Elliott is in talks with RB Leipzig over a potential transfer from Liverpool

RB Leipzig are in talks with Harvey Elliott over a potential transfer. The Bundesliga outfit want to sign the Liverpool midfielder as a replacement for Xavi Simons, who is closing in on a possible switch to Chelsea.

The ECHO understands that discussions are currently taking place between the German club and Elliott’s camp, with it expected that the situation will soon develop.

Leipzig only signed Simons permanently from Paris Saint-Germain back in January in a €50m deal, following a successful 18-month stint on loan, and now value the Netherlands international at €70m. Such a value will not be lost on Liverpool bosses when it comes to potential negotiations with the German side over Elliott and setting their asking price, should he be open to the move.

While the two 22-year-olds were both born in April 2003, it is the Reds man who boasts the greater senior experience to date with 192 club appearances under his belt compared to Simons’ own total of 135.

Elliott has featured at the highest level more, too, making 118 appearances in the Premier League and European competition.

While Simons has made 120 appearances in European top-flight leagues and Europe, that includes a season in the Eredivisie on loan at PSV Eindhoven and two seasons on the fringes of the PSG squad in leagues that are defensively less intense than the Premier League.

Elliott also betters Simons statistically per 90 minutes when it comes to goal contributions (0.7 to 0.65), expected assists (0.45 – 0.5 to 0.26 – 0.3), progressive carries (8 to 3.5 – 4) and shot-creating actions (4.5 – 5 to 4).

With such numbers delivered consistently across Premier League and European competitions for a number of seasons, as well as in the recent European Under-21s Championships, where Elliott won player of the tournament while winning the tournament with England, Liverpool have no intention of selling their player cheaply.

The Reds know their value of Elliott and, with the club being well-known to be data-driven and follow market trends, will take the fees of players of comparable and even less pedigree into consideration.

Elliott found his game-time limited under Arne Slot last season as he struggled to find top form after suffering a fractured foot. Making 28 appearances, he started only six times and was only used from the start in the Premier League once the title was won.

But he still returned five goals and three assists during the campaign and did impress his new head coach during the final weeks of the season, with his situation doing little to lower the club’s overall value of the Elliott.

The lifelong Red has been open about his situation a number of times in recent months, most recently during the club’s pre-season tour of the Far East.

Speaking to The Anfield Wrap in Asia, he admitted that while he would love to stay with his boyhood club, he would need to make a decision about his future given his own ambitions and likely starting opportunities.

“If I had it my way I would be here for the rest of my career, it’s as simple as that,” Elliott said. “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 World Cup squad. I want to keep being successful as a player. It’s something I still need to review.

“I need to have a talk with everyone and review the situation. We have many new players who have come in so whether it blocks the path for me I’m not sure. It’s something I need to have a look at and decide.”

Liverpool broke their transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £116m earlier this summer. The Germany international is set to be Slot’s first choice at number 10 – Elliott’s preferred position.

Elliott did score in Monday’s 4-1 pre-season friendly win over Athletic Bilbao, but he started the first of two encounters against the La Liga outfit as Wirtz got the nod in the first-choice XI that won 3-2 in the second clash between the two sides.

Elliott’s reaction both when scoring and leaving the pitch did not go unnoticed as he placed his hand over the badge on his chest and saluted all four stands. He later posted a cryptic post on social media after the game as he shared a red heart emoji along with images of the match.

This did little to quell the feeling that his Anfield career might come to an end this summer, with ongoing talks with RB Leipzig indeed suggesting that the playmaker is edging closer to the exit door.

But while the Bundesliga outfit are in talks over a potential transfer, they will have to pay a fair price to lure Elliott away from Liverpool.