HARVEY ELLIOTT has warned Arne Slot he won’t “waste” his career and watch from the bench at Liverpool.
The attacker, 22, collected a Premier League title medal this term at Anfield but played just 360 minutes across 18 appearances.
The boyhood Reds fan is in Slovakia as part of the England U21 squad looking to defend their European Championship crown for what could be the start of a big summer.
A host of clubs are considering making a move for the £45m-rated ex-Fulham man and he admitted he may have to leave for the good of his career.
Elliott said: “It’s just a situation that me and the team on my behalf have to have a conversation about.
“I’m coming into an age now where I’m 22, I’m going to be 23 next season and I don’t really want to be wasting years on my career because it’s a short career. You don’t know what’s going to happen. Touch wood it doesn’t, but injuries and things, it could shorten it.
“It’s a situation that, as I’ve said before, I need to reflect. I need to see if I’m content in doing what I’m doing and how can I improve as a player because that’s the most important thing. That’s the main thing, really.
“I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself and the best player I can be. If that’s to go somewhere else, then it’s a decision that I’m going to have to make and I just need to see what happens.”
Elliott, who came through QPR’s academy before making the move to Fulham prior to being snapped up by Liverpool in 2019, added: “Nothing makes me want to leave. I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well. But as I said, most importantly, it’s just about what’s best for my career. I just need to make that decision.”
One of the highlights of Elliott’s campaign, which was delayed due to a fractured foot, came in the Champions League.
He scored a last-ditch winner at Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 first leg just 47 seconds after replacing Mohamed Salah, but even that moment failed to convince Slot to hand him a start in the next game.
He said: “PSG was kind of a high for me, especially with the Premier League game coming up a few days later. I thought maybe it was an opportunity for me to get a start and to showcase what I can do and just get a nice run out.
“The boss is the boss. He’s the man in charge. He’s the reason why we’ve won the league, because of his decisions. I can’t complain. I just need to make sure I’m ready and to keep going.”
One man who does have total faith in Elliott is Lee Carsley, the man he enjoyed Euro success with two years ago.
Elliott and Charlie Cresswell are the only survivors from that squad in Slovakia and the Liverpool man says he is loving the leadership role he has.
He added: “I’ve always taken that role in my stride. Not only for myself, I want the whole team to do well. I want all the players to do well.
“Everyone’s got quality here. We have one aim and one goal, which is to win it. I’ll try as hard as I can to make sure that happens.”
England kick-off their Euro campaign against the Czech Republic on Thursday and then face Slovenia three days later and finish the group stage against Germany on Wednesday 18 June.
All of the Young Lions’ matches are being broadcast on Channel 4.
England football stars’ tattoos
The England squad are known for their love of body art and a lot of them are covered in tattoos.
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