Why Elliott needs to leave Liverpool

Plus a look at Eze, Carsley, Quansah, Anderson, Chelsea, CWC and Lauren James

Euros 1. Harvey Elliott needs to play. He needs to move. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is not quite good enough yet to break into Liverpool’s first team (Dominik Szoboszlai is ahead). But Elliott’s performances for England at the Under-21 Euros prove he’s too good to kick his heels on the bench. He’ll take a week off with his partner, refresh mind and body, talk to agent and family (who were out in Slovakia) and then return to Kirkby with a conversation to have with Arne Slot and a decision to make. Slot does not appear to value Elliott as much as Jurgen Klopp did.

So it probably makes sense for Elliott to move and Liverpool will get good money for him. All the technical qualities are there, he’s a good character, dedicated professional, and could have been England’s captain at the Euros had Lee Carsley not chosen James McAtee. Does he have the physicality for sustained Premier League action at elite level? That’s really the only question about Elliott. It is easy to see Elliott flourishing in Spain.

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Eberechi Eze is a terrific player, outstanding as a left-sided 10, scorer of seven goals in Crystal Palace’s last seven games of the season, but can he roam in Mikel Arteta’s system as he does so effectively in Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-2-1? Arsenal need a left-wing flier/elite upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli. Real Madrid’s Rodrygo makes more sense, if a more difficult negotiation.