Liverpool ace Harvey Elliott has broken his silence on links with a move to West Ham and it’s the news Graham Potter has been desperate to hear.
With young Liverpool and England Under 21 midfield star Harvey Elliott making his stance clear, attention now turns to Hammers chief David Sullivan to see if he can get a deal done.
Last week West Ham broke their silence on the club’s interest in Reds playmaker Elliott.
Now the 22-year-old has spoken for the first time since being heavily linked with a move from Anfield to the London Stadium.
Graham Potter is desperate to overhaul West Ham’s woefully assembled midfield.
A journalist with strong contacts behind the Irons curtain claimed recently that West Ham are ‘confident’ of doing a deal with Liverpool for Elliott.
West Ham insisted do they have chance to sign Liverpool’s Elliott
When West Ham revealed several of their targets were playing at the Under 21 Euros – all roads pointed to Elliott and a number of his triumphant England teammates.
It has since emerged that the Hammers have been holding talks with Liverpool over two England Under 21 stars in the shape of Elliott and Tyler Morton.
West Ham made an enquiry about the conditions to sign Elliott from Liverpool while he was leading England to glory and being named player of the tournament in the process.
Speculation has suggested Elliott has grown frustrated by his lack of game time at Anfield.
His mood, and chances, will not be improved by Liverpool’s impressive transfer drive this summer.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Elliott was seen crying after Liverpool’s last game of the season – suggesting he knew it could be his last for the team he has supported all his life.
West Ham have reportedly been made aware Liverpool are open to selling the 22-year-old – although the Reds may insist on a buy-back clause in the deal.
It was reported last week that the Hammers had admitted defeat in signing the former Fulham starlet.
But the club spoke out in a Hammers News exclusive as West Ham’s owners insisted there was still a chance they could sign Elliott.
“With Elliott there is a chance, it is only a small chance, but never say never,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s board told Hammers News earlier this month.
Elliott gives West Ham the news they wanted
Things have gone a touch quiet regarding Elliott of late and he is in Hong Kong with Arne Slot’s squad for their pre-season tour.
The Elliott links, along with the double full-back capture of El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters, had breathed new life and some positivity into the toxic air that had started to engulf West Ham.
But confirmation Potter doesn’t feel the club needs a new striker – coupled with news that ageing, injury-prone forward Callum Wilson is on the verge of joining the club – has dampened the mood massively.
Now there has been a timely boost.
Photo by Tullio Puglia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty ImagesNow it’s over to Sullivan to do a deal with Liverpool
Because Liverpool star Elliott has given West Ham the news they wanted and now it’s over to Sullivan.
Wilson’s agent is Will Salthouse, a close friend of the Sullivan family.
So there has been a backlash towards majority owner Sullivan about the reportedly imminent move.
Potter wants to rebuild the oldest Premier League squad around young stars like Elliott.
Now the pressure is on Sullivan to deliver a deal for the versatile midfield ace.
Because when asked about the speculation over his future and links to the likes of West Ham, Elliott has admitted he has to leave his beloved Liverpool for the good of his career, even if he doesn’t want to.
And if Sullivan can pull off a deal with Liverpool, Elliott would arrive in east London with the perfect motivation to be a hit as he wants to make the senior England squad for next summer’s World Cup.
Elliott admits he needs to leave Anfield for good of his career
“If I had it my way I would be here for the rest of my career, it’s as simple as that,” Elliott told The Anfield Wrap – which you can see below.
“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.”
Brighton and Dortmund have been linked as rival suitors to West Ham.
If Sullivan wants to redeem himself with some Hammers fans – and perhaps his own manager in light of the Wilson situation that’s unfolding – then winning the race for Elliott would be a great way to start.