Liverpool Transfer News: Double-deal derails £50m playmaker move

Yahoo

17 hours ago

Liverpool had been hoping to agree a transfer with RB Leipzig for one of the club's brightest talents on the basis that one of the German club's big stars is likely to join Chelsea this summer.
However, the latest update suggests that Leipzig have decided to turn their attention elsewhere.
🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range
🚨2025/26 LFC x adidas range🚨
LFC x adidas
Shop the home range today!
LFC x adidas
Shop the goalkeeper range today
LFC x adidas
Shop the new adidas range today!
The player in question is Harvey Elliott, who has seemingly been pushed out of Liverpool, despite having a really impressive start to his career on Merseyside. His performances in the first team have been positive but our transfer business has meant that his game time is increasingly limited.
🔴
Winning the U21 Euros looked to be the catalyst for an expensive move away, since he won the player of the tournament award, but none of his linked clubs appear to be interested anymore.
Reports coming out of Leipzig now suggest that a new target has been pivoted to instead of him.
Leipzig and Chelsea double-deal
It always looked likely that Xavi Simons would join Chelsea, despite the illustrious depth they have in attacking areas. Enzo Marseca used six forwards throughout the Blues' 0-0 draw to Crystal Palace on the weekend and still no breakthrough came. As such, the Dutchman's move is likely to happen.
That would have left Leipzig with a creative hole in their team and plenty of money to spend on a replacement, with interest having been lodged in Elliott, although no actual bid has been made.
In Tuesday's dealsheet from The Athletic, it was understood that the Englishman remained a potential replacement for Simons, although his move has now been significantly derailed.
The update stems from David Ornstein's understanding that Leipzig are now looking at bringing Christopher Nkunku back to the club, with talks stepping up with Chelsea for a permanent move.
In his report, he said: "A deal for Nkunku to return to Leipzig is not considered close at this stage, and other forward options remain in play for the forward. The 27-year-old has been expected to leave this summer, with The Athletic reporting in November that he was not happy at the club."
However, this move appears to make sense for all parties, except for the fact that the German club are swapping a 22-year-old for a player five years older, which is a bold decision given how young the current Leipzig squad is. You feel it's a bit of an opportunistic move to revive Nkunku's career.
It would represent a double-deal between Leipzig and Chelsea, with one attacking player moving in order to make room for the other to take his place, with the finances for the moves relatively similar.
Elliott will likely be stuck without a move this summer if the deal goes through since Liverpool hold the player in high esteem, especially since his campaign in the Euros last season, although where Arne Slot will play him this season, if at all, is going to cause headaches since he was set to leave.
The player's desire to succeed at Liverpool has never been in doubt, to the extent that he was only considering a move away from Merseyside because it appeared to be the best decision for his career, rather than because he wants to leave. The fans and his teammates mean everything to him.
As such, we're in a sticky situation. Of course, having a player of his talent to utilise this season is going to help bolster the side, he just wasn't in the initial plans which means Slot might have to rethink his tactical approach if a new suitor in the transfer market can't be found before September 1.