West Ham stunned as Liverpool star’s transfer fee shatters hopes—Graham Potter forced to hunt new targets

West Ham United’s pursuit of Harvey Elliott could be derailed by Liverpool’s steep valuation, with the Merseyside club demanding over £40 million for the young midfielder. While initial discussions between the two clubs have taken place, the Hammers now appear to be reconsidering their interest due to the high asking price, according to talkSPORT.

Since Elliott has indicated uncertainty about his future at Liverpool, speculation about a summer exit has intensified. The appeal of joining West Ham, where he would likely receive more consistent playing time, is clear for the 22-year-old. However, with the club’s recruitment team, led by Kyle McCauley, already drawing up alternative targets, Elliott’s transfer looks increasingly unlikely.

West Ham are reportedly looking at other midfielders, including Liverpool’s Tyler Morton and Manchester City’s James McAtee, though McAtee is thought to prefer a move abroad. The club’s search is motivated by the need to strengthen their attacking options after the £55 million sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham. Other names on their shortlist include Chelsea’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes.

Even if West Ham were to revisit their interest in Elliott, they would face stiff competition from other clubs. RB Leipzig and Newcastle United are both monitoring the situation, while Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot’s intentions regarding Elliott remain unclear.

Stuart Pearce, a former England international, told talkSPORT in June that he believes a transfer would benefit both Elliott and West Ham. During a segment on the talkSPORT Breakfast show, Pearce commented: “[Swipe] right, every day for me, on both counts. The player needs to play. When [Jurgen] Klopp left, he said: ‘I should have played Harvey Elliott a bit more.’ That was one of the statements he made. He identified the talent of him and identified that he didn’t play him enough. He hasn’t played enough this year once again. I think that would be a good move for both parties. Right.”

Elliott himself has spoken candidly about his lack of playing time, expressing a desire to make decisions that will benefit his development. Since arriving at Liverpool at 16, Elliott has featured in 147 games, mainly as a substitute. Last season, he started just two of his 18 Premier League appearances, a drop from his previous campaign where he started 27 games and contributed four goals and 11 assists.

Reflecting on his situation in June, Elliott stated: “It’s just a situation that me and the team have to have a conversation about because I’m coming into an age now where I’m 22, I’m going to be 23 next season. I don’t really want to be wasting years [of] my career, because it’s a short career. You don’t know what’s going to happen. 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. I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself. 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.”

During the last season, Elliott played 28 matches across all competitions, starting in six and scoring five goals with three assists. Notably, he scored a dramatic late winner in a Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain in March. As things stand, his future remains uncertain, with both his club and potential suitors weighing their options ahead of the new season.