Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is ready to keep young winger Harvey Elliott at the club as a replacement for the lost Xherdan Shaqiri.
Shaqiri has publicly acknowledged his desire to leave Liverpool this summer after spending three seasons as a reserve, with Lazio tipped to offer the 29-year-old an escape route in the coming weeks.
Shaqiri wants out of Liverpool / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Liverpool are ready to download Shaqiri and their other front players, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino, and according to The Athletic, this is because Klopp believes that Elliott is ready for a place in the first team.
The 18-year-old has returned from an excellent loan with Blackburn Rovers who gave up seven goals and 11 assists in 41 championship appearances.
Klopp was extremely impressed with Elliott and believes he is good enough for a reserve role at Anfield next season, given a starting role somewhere along the line as Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane all approach their 30th birthdays.
Despite the prospect of getting in some money by selling Shaqiri, Origi and Minamino, Liverpool may refuse to sign replacements. According to The Independent, there are currently no plans to sign more players after £ 36 million to sign Ibrahima Konate.
Instead, it is Elliott who will be promoted to the first team, and he can join 16-year-old Kaide Gordon, who joined Derby earlier this year and has earned many fans since arriving at Anfield.
Gordon has impressed both staff and senior players during the pre-season, and while he is set to stay in the academy, it is suggested that he can get a handful of chances in the first team next season when needed.
The same goes for French defender Billy Koumetio, Polish striker Mateusz Musialowski and German midfielder Melkamu Frauendorf, who have all impressed in the last 12 months and are seen as a reliable protection for the first team.
