The Liverpool midfielder’s comments about a summer move may have looked off the cuff, but it seems he is following the example of his recently departed teammate
Harvey Elliott Faces a Big Call as Kelleher Moves On — Is It His Turn Next?
It couldn’t have been an easy watch for Harvey Elliott last week as he saw long-time teammate and close mate Caoimhin Kelleher seal a move away from Anfield.
There were probably a lot of emotions swirling: sadness to see a friend go, happiness that Kelleher’s finally getting the spotlight he deserves — and, maybe, just maybe, a hint of envy.
Let’s be real: both Elliott and Kelleher spent most of last season warming the bench while Arne Slot’s Liverpool machine rolled through the competition and brought the Premier League title back to Merseyside. Neither felt like a core part of the project — and they know it.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that one has already made the leap. Kelleher’s off to Brentford in a deal worth up to £18 million ($24M), and he didn’t exactly sugarcoat his intentions either. He’d been crystal clear for months — he wants to be a No. 1. Simple as that.
“I feel like I’m good enough to be a no.1 and play week in, week out,” the Irish keeper said. And now he’s got that chance.
And Elliott? He’s clearly paying attention.
The 21-year-old has recently opened up about his own future, and his comments are telling. Speaking from the England U21 camp, he didn’t hide his inner conflict:
“I’m coming to an age now where I’m 22, going to be 23 next season, and I don’t really want to be wasting years of my career. It’s a short career.”
It’s no coincidence that both Elliott and Kelleher are repped by the same agency — ROOF — and it wouldn’t be a shock if Elliott’s watching how his teammate handled the situation and wondering if he should follow suit.
Yes, Harvey’s a Red through and through. He’s said so himself:
“Nothing makes me want to leave. I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well.”
But love only takes you so far when game time is limited, and your prime years are slipping by. Elliott didn’t get a single league start until Liverpool had already wrapped up the title. That’s bound to weigh heavily on someone with ambitions of becoming a top-tier player.
And for a player with his talent — someone who’s shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t been trusted with a regular role — this summer could be pivotal.
He hasn’t made a final decision yet, but it’s clear the door is cracked open. The next few weeks could define not just his future at Liverpool, but his career trajectory as a whole.
One thing’s for sure — Reds fans will be watching closely.