Liverpool have made a late push to continue their frivolous summer spending spree right up until the 7pm deadline.
The Reds have agreed to sign Alexander Isak after a £125 million deal was agreed with Newcastle United in the early hours of Monday.
And while official confirmation of the British record transfer is awaited, Liverpool have struck a deal for Marc Guehi, agreeing to sign the Crystal Palace captain for £35m.
Once those signings are finalised, the Reds will have surpassed the money spent in any previous transfer window in the club’s history before this summer, on deadline day alone.
Richard Hughes has also been working on departures before the deadline as another Anfield cult hero packs his bags on Merseyside.
Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesHarvey Elliott will leave Liverpool for Aston Villa
Liverpool have sanctioned a season-long loan move for Harvey Elliott to join Aston Villa, which will become permanent in 2026 for £35m.
TBR Football understands Aston Villa sold their project to Elliott as the midfielder leaves Anfield in the search for regular first-team football.
However, ex-Liverpool man Stewart Downing once lauded Elliott during their time together at Blackburn Rovers in 2020, acting as a stark reminder of what the Reds have agreed to let go.
“Harvey is a frightening talent,” Downing told Blackburn’s official website. “I think the lads have spoken to each other and mentioned that you look back to when you were 17, you’re a bit of a headless chicken, aren’t you?
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
“But Harvey’s game understanding, his quality, his knowledge of when to release the pass, even with his goal, he never panics.
“For the equaliser (against Rotherham), as soon as he took his first touch, I was turning back because I knew it would be a goal.
“He has the finesse, the quality, but he’s also fitted into the group very well. He’s definitely got the quality, but he runs around and works hard as well.
“I think most would look at him and say, ‘He’s good, he’s got the technical ability,’ but he’s buying into everything, the pressing, the tracking back, he’s a real team player.”
As revealed by TBR Football on Thursday, Liverpool had no desire to sell Elliott and were planning for the season with the 22-year-old in the first-team frame.
The Reds accepting a £35m obligation to purchase clause, when previously Liverpool had insisted on £50m for the midfielder, is a clear indication that the club was willing to offer Elliott the best possible path to continue his development away from Anfield.
Liverpool will miss Harvey Elliott
Although the England Under-21 international never looked like establishing himself as a regular starter under Arne Slot, his presence will undoubtedly be missed at Anfield.
Elliott is a lifelong Liverpool fan, and it would not have been an easy decision for him to give up on his dream of playing for the Reds.
Slot has leaned heavily on his bench at the beginning of the season, with Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha emerging from the dugout and delivering match-winning goals.
And perhaps the Liverpool boss would have expected a similar impact from Elliott after he scored the winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last season. However, the player had expressed a desire to play week in and week out, and this was just not possible on Merseyside.