As Watford return to the Premier League, they know attacking reinforcements are needed for survival. After solidifying their midfield by signing highly-rated Imran Louza, the Hornets can focus their attention on the goalscoring front, with Liverpool winger Harvey Elliott one potential target.
Watford Hoping for Harvey Elliott Transfer
Liverpool Youngster Could Be in Line to Make Premier League Leap
According to Tom Hopkinson of The Daily Mirror, Watford are eyeing a season-long loan move for Elliott. The 18-year-old is expected to return to Anfield for pre-season before Klopp decides how he wants him to spend the 2021/22 campaign.
After impressing on loan with Blackburn in the Championship, the next step for Elliott is a loan to a bottom half Premier League side, as a true break into the Liverpool first-team is unlikely to happen just yet. The winger is on the right trajectory for an eventual Anfield breakthrough to happen, and a loan to a top-flight club is the perfect move to keep him on that path. Watford is the ideal-sized club for Elliott to spend the next campaign with.
When on loan with Blackburn, Elliott scored an impressive seven goals and provided 11 assists in the second tier, meaning he averaged one goal contribution per 153 minutes, which is a remarkable output for any player.
Elliott was a pivotal part of Blackburn’s high-octane attacking unit, which also consisted of the likes of Adam Armstrong, Ben Brereton and Sam Gallagher. A Premier League move to Watford would see him play in a team with fewer attacking chances and against better opposition, but Elliott has nonetheless shown he is ready for such a move.
The Huge Hurdle Facing the Transfer That Liverpool Will Consider
The main hurdle in any potential Harvey Elliott transfer to Watford is that he is a right-winger. Watford’s Player of the Season and record-signing Ismaila Sarr has that position locked in until he is eventually sold. The Hornets will be hoping such a departure does not happen this transfer window as the starting right-wing position at Vicarage Road is reserved. As a result, if Elliott was to join Watford, he would likely need to play in another position.
However, that issue can be resolved. Due to Elliott being left-footed, he could make the switch from an inverted right-winger to left-winger – a position where Watford may look to improve on. As a young, talented, ambitious player who did play a few matches on the left flank last season, there is no reason to think such a switch is not possible.
Whether Liverpool think the Hornets will offer him enough playing time will hugely factor into any potential transfer. With Ken Sema and Philip Zinckernagel battling it out to be second-choice and Joao Pedro potentially shifting into a left-wing role as well, it is not as if Elliott would be guaranteed starting minutes right away if the position switch does not go to plan. A lack of minutes for the 18-year-old is the worst-case scenario.
Klopp will likely want to reach a verdict on this deal after the pre-season starts. However, Watford may have secured an alternative winger by then.
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