Andoni Iraola has just concluded his first official press conference as Liverpool manager, which has already generated a lot of talking points.
The Spaniard didn’t address the media after his Anfield arrival was confirmed, with the Reds opting to do so during the start of pre-season.
Iraola confirmed that Liverpool are working on transfer incomings, with Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz already joining the club.
On the other hand, the former Bournemouth boss also made a huge claim on Harvey Elliott’s future after he returned from his loan spell at Aston Villa.
Andoni Iraola praises Harvey Elliott
Elliott predominantly featured as a substitute during Arne Slot’s first season at the club but won the Premier League title at Liverpool.
Last summer, he was linked with multiple Premier League clubs but opted to move to Aston Villa on an initial loan deal with an option to buy.
However, in what turned out to be a lose-lose situation, Villa used him sparingly as they did not want him to make enough appearances, which would have triggered the option to buy.
Liverpool also decided against recalling him as they didn’t have the provision to do so, while they already had other options in midfield.
The Englishman is now back in the squad and Iraola feels he will have a chance to impress, especially with a handful of senior players set to return late after their 2026 FIFA World Cup commitments.
“Definitely! Harvey is here with us, I have seen him with the eagerness to show up, get super ready, he’ll have a chance in pre-season.
“We need him and it’s a good sign. I hope we can see him in a good place.
“I think Harvey comes from last season had to be difficult for him, strange situation, they couldn’t even play him and I think he uses this experience – the bad situation – to make himself even more eager to be a Liverpool player.”
Elliott should be reintegrated
Elliott was caught between Liverpool and Aston Villa protecting their personal interests, due to which his career stalled for a year.
In terms of his skill set, he can still add a lot of value to the Reds’ squad. Additionally, every player has a clean slate under the new manager, so pre-season could well define whether or not he stays.
He can provide cover and competition for the No.10 role and also play out wide if the situation calls for it, making him a multi-faceted option.
Liverpool won’t stand in his way if a big offer comes in, but that is unlikely to happen due to his lack of game time last season.
Perhaps now, the best course of action is to use the Englishman as a squad option and re-evaluate his situation in January or next season. A lot can change quickly in football, so Elliott will hope to endear himself to Iraola to save his Anfield dream.
