Harvey Elliott offered Liverpool escape option with Chelsea playing role in transfer

RB Leipzig want Harvey Elliott to replace Xavi Simons this summer. The German club have contacted Liverpool and are speaking to the player in a bid to sell their project to the Liverpool attacking midfielder.

Elliott, 22, is a boyhood Liverpool fan and is reluctant to give up on playing for his dream club - but will move on if it will further his career by playing more regularly.

He faces serious competition at Anfield following the arrival of Florian Wirtz while Jeremie Frimpong can fill in for Mo Salah on the right side. Leipzig will try to convince Elliott that they are the best place for his next move before continuing more detailed discussions with Liverpool.

The Bundesliga club are set to sell Simons to Chelsea for more than £60m. They're also set to bring in more than £70m for Benjamin Sesko with Manchester United and Newcastle tussling out for the striker’s signature.

Back in June, Elliott was urged to 'get out and play' by Jermain Defoe after helping England U21s retain their European Championship crown.

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Speaking on Channel 4 after Elliott's match-winning double against the Netherlands in the semi-final, Defoe said: “There’ll be a lot of clubs watching this tournament.

“We said it before, he’s too good to not be playing. When you’re producing in big tournaments like this against the best players, the two goals that we saw this evening, he’s a top, top player.

“For him, he just needs to go out and play, get himself in a team where he’s one of the main players, and just go out and express yourself and show how good you are because this performance tonight, it’s amazing.”

Joe Cole, also analysing the game for Channel 4, was in full agreement with his former England colleague. He said: “I love the lad.

“I think he plays football the right way and I’m really excited for him. Not just for this final, but I’m excited for his future as well, for next year.

“He’s done a great job for Liverpool, and if he decides to move on, I still feel there’s levels. For a player to come to a tournament and do what he’s done, there’s levels for him to go up again, and I’d love to see him playing with that kind of passion and happiness on his face every week.”

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