When Harvey Elliott opened up on his frustrations at Liverpool despite winning the 2024/25 Premier League title, the ears of West Ham and various other top-flight clubs in need of some youthful exuberance would have pricked up.
Like a hungry terrier hearing the distant rustle of a crisp packet two rooms away. An opportunity to snaffle something pretty tasty. An unexpected treat, to kick-start the summer window.
Harvey Elliott is open to leaving Liverpool in pursuit of the sort of regular first-team football which appears beyond him under Arne Slot. The former Fulham starlet started only two games as the Reds won their second Premier League title.
The extension of Mo Salah’s contract keeps the right-wing spot under lock and key. The £116 million signing of Florian Wirtz – a player discovered by former West Ham United director Tim Steidten at Bayer Leverkusen – hardly boosts Elliott’s chances of greater game time in a central role.
And, while Stuart Pearce urges West Ham to Harvey Elliott back to London, former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor can understand why the Surrey-born 22-year-old may have grown into a frustrated extra in an all-star Liverpool cast.
Gabby Agbonlahor urges West Ham United target Harvey Elliott to leave Liverpool
Still the second-youngest debutant in Premier League history behind Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri, Elliott will be 23 years of age this time next year.
And, after watching many in his age group establish themselves as top-flight stalwarts and senior England internationals, Agbonlahor is backing Elliott to belatedly do the same away from Merseyside.
“I think he deserves to go and start week-in, week out,” Agbonlahor tells talkSPORT after being informed by reporter Ben Jacobs that Elliott is on West Ham’s wishlist.
“He’s 22 years of age now. You need to be playing, getting 40 games a season. For me, I would push a move.
“I know it’s hard to leave a big club like Liverpool but I would push for a move to go and play week-in, week-out. And I’m sure Liverpool would agree!”
Notably, Liverpool did not stand in another youngster’s way when Bayer Leverkusen chose Jarell Quansah over West Ham’s Nayef Aguerd this month.
Former Aston Villa skipper thinks £40m is right for Elliott
Agbonlahor watched on in awe as Elliott took his tally to 13 goals in 27 starts for England at Under-21 level on Wednesday. While the West Ham-linked Noah Atubolu shone between the sticks during Germany’s 3-0 semi-final thrashing of France, the Liverpool benchwarmer hit a brace as Lee Carsley’s Young Lions edged past the Netherlands.
“See how good he’s been in this tournament, the fee has [probably] gone up,” Agbonlahor adds of a midfielder reportedly valued in the region of £40 million.
“If it was £30 million before, I’m not sure, maybe £40 million now? For Harvey Elliott, a move is probably perfect.
“He might say; ‘you know what, I’m not far off [starting] at Liverpool. I want to go to a team fighting for Europe. I want to go to a European team or a different league.
“He’s got to go somewhere where he’s going to be guaranteed football. I think he’s better than Wolves. I wouldn’t mind a Brighton. It all depends if he’s adamant on staying in the Premier League.
“Why can’t he go to a Dortmund or a team in Serie A? I think he will keep his options open. Put in a top performance in the [Under-21 European Championship] final on Saturday, and he can go to a top club.”
West Ham have a history with Dmitri Payet-esque mavericks. Perhaps Elliott, an extraordinarily gifted footballer blessed with the ferocious work ethic demanded in the modern era, could come to represent the best of both worlds.
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