Harvey Elliott’s exit “in the interest of everyone” – he’s ‘ready to show his quality’

Arne Slot has explained that Harvey Elliott‘s transfer to Aston Villa is “in the interest of everyone” as he praised the 22-year-old’s attitude when minutes were in short supply.

Elliott had signalled throughout the summer that he needed to consider whether staying at Liverpool was the best for his career, despite his strong connections to his boyhood club.

It was only on deadline day that it transpired, with Aston Villa signing the 22-year-old on an initial loan deal that will become permanent if he makes 10 appearances.

He is, therefore, almost certain to become a Villan for £35 million next summer, though Liverpool have included a buy-back clause if his potential is realised at Villa Park.

The move will present opportunities that would not have been available to Elliott under Slot, and Liverpool’s head coach all but made that clear as he praised Elliott’s conduct and contributions.

“Harvey is in a very good place, going to a very nice club with Aston Villa,” Slot told reporters.

“I think it’s in the interest of everyone. He didn’t get the playing time he probably deserves for the quality player he is, and he always conducted himself so well.

“It wasn’t only when he said that this was his club that he wanted to say this to the fans; he acted inside, with him not playing much, always doing what was in the best interest of the club.

“He deserves a big compliment for that,” Slot emphasised.

“I know everybody always talks about Mo and Virgil and the others when we win the league, but players like him were definitely also the reason why we could win it.

“He was always positive and if he had to play five or 10 minutes, he helped the team, and in every session he did.

“That is partly the success of a team, that the ones that don’t play that much have the right mindset.

“I think he’s completely ready now to show the quality he has at Aston Villa.”

With Aston Villa counting their injuries, Elliott, who will wear the No. 9 shirt, could make his debut for Villa at Everton on Saturday ahead of their League Cup clash against a few of his former club mates now at Brentford.