RB Leipzig have officially opened negotiations with Liverpool for the potential transfer of Harvey Elliott, with the Bundesliga side pushing hard to secure the 22-year-old’s signature.
Softfootball can confirm that talks are underway, and Leipzig have positioned Elliott as a priority target to replace the outgoing Xavi Simons, who is on the verge of joining Chelsea.
German journalist Florian Plettenberg revealed the development via his official X handle. He said:
“Harvey #Elliott is very high on RB Leipzig’s shortlist, as revealed days ago in our show. Several clubs are interested in the 22 y/o Liverpool midfielder, but Leipzig are pushing now. Clubs in contact. #LFC Elliott has already spoken with Ole Werner and Marcel Schäfer.”
Elliott has already held direct conversations with Leipzig head coach Ole Werner and sporting director Marcel Schäfer, signaling his openness to the move. Though several Premier League clubs, including West Ham, are monitoring the situation, Leipzig are now seen as the frontrunners.
Elliott’s interest in leaving Liverpool stems from his desire to play regular football. Last season, he managed just 18 Premier League appearances, most of them coming off the bench. Despite being a lifelong Liverpool fan, the young midfielder is not willing to spend another season on the fringes.
The arrival of Florian Wirtz this summer has further complicated Elliott’s chances of regular minutes under Arne Slot, who replaced Jürgen Klopp. While some players have flourished under the new manager, Elliott appears to have slipped further down the pecking order.
Liverpool are said to value Elliott at £50 million, a price tag that could be a sticking point for RB Leipzig. His current market value is closer to €30 million, making negotiations tricky. Leipzig’s financial flexibility may hinge on the sale of Simons and Benjamin Šeško, who has been heavily linked with Manchester United.
One major hurdle for Leipzig is their lack of European football for the 2025/26 season. For a player like Elliott, who still harbours ambitions of playing in the Champions League, that absence may prove a challenge unless Leipzig can convince him of their long-term project and promise of a central role in the team.
Interestingly, Elliott was previously linked to Bayer Leverkusen in a potential swap deal involving Wirtz, but that move never materialised. The Bundesliga, however, remains a likely destination if Elliott does decide to leave Anfield.
For now, RB Leipzig remain firmly in the race. Their ability to complete the deal will depend on how flexible Liverpool are on the fee and how quickly Leipzig can offload some assets to fund the move.
With just under a month to go in the summer transfer window, Harvey Elliott’s future is far from certain. But one thing is clear: the young midfielder is ready for a new challenge, and Leipzig are ready to hand it to him.
