Great news, Liverpool will give £35m star to Andoni Iraola this pre-season

Liverpool will see what one £35m talent can do under Andoni Iraola this summer. A massive one for the player.

Andoni Iraola is the new head coach at Liverpool and that means some big changes are on the way. The most immediate ones will simply be who he wants to start the season with - it may be that we see a few interesting swaps in terms of minutes.

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Pre-season is all-important for that and especially in a World Cup year. Liverpool have a good few stars away at the tournament and they won't link up with the new coach until fairly close to the season's kick-off.

Those not at the World Cup have an opportunity, then, and one of the biggest goes to Harvey Elliott. The playmaker had an awful time out on loan with Aston Villa as they refused to even play him, such was their desire to avoid triggering a clause in his contract.

But with the lost year of his career behind him (arguably two when you count his first season under Arne Slot), Elliott is back at Liverpool and back trying to break into the first-team setup. We think he's got a real chance of doing just that if Iraola is willing to have a good look at him.

The Liverpool Echo suggests that is the case. They claim that Iraola will treat the squad like new signings, with Elliott getting a chance to impress and force his way into the setup.

Again, we'll back him to do that. Elliott is a fantastic talent when given the chance to shine - it's just a massive shame that back-to-back coaches weren't willing to give him that.

Fingers crossed that Iraola does.

Harvey Elliott: Situation Summary

Anfield Return and Future Prospects

As of 12 June 2026, Harvey Elliott is set to return to Liverpool for pre-season training following a challenging season-long loan spell at Aston Villa. The 23-year-old midfielder’s 2025/26 campaign was complicated by a £35 million obligation-to-buy clause contingent on him making 10 Premier League appearances; having finished the season with nine appearances, the deal did not trigger, leaving him in a period of uncertainty. Despite the difficulties experienced during his time in the Midlands, Elliott remains under contract at Anfield and has publicly reiterated his deep affection for the club.

Tactical Fit under Andoni Iraola

The appointment of Andoni Iraola as Liverpool’s new head coach has provided a potential lifeline for the England Under-21 international. With the club currently navigating a major squad overhaul and seeking to implement a high-intensity, direct style of play, reports suggest that Iraola is prepared to offer Elliott a fair opportunity to prove his worth during the upcoming summer schedule. While his long-term future remains a subject of speculation, Elliott’s desire to re-establish himself at his "second home" aligns with the club's current need to integrate versatile attacking options.