New no.9 could make sensational Liverpool return

In the history of Liverpool, it's not happened very often that the club has re-signed a player.

Ian Rush has probably been the most famous example after the Reds brought him back from his time at Juventus.

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He went onto become the most prolific goalscorer in the club's history.

Steve Staunton is another player who was re-signed after he left the club in 1991. He returned seven years later and spent two more seasons at Anfield.

More recently, Robbie Fowler made a return from Manchester City under Rafa Benitez and Craig Bellamy came back on a free transfer after spending the previous season at Cardiff City in the Premier League.

So, in the club's history, or recent history there's only been four examples. But it's very likely that we will see more players return to Anfield in the coming years.

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Especially after the business Richard Hughes conduct this summer. He's sold a lot of the club's young players who have come through the academy.

Now this was necessary because they were not guaranteed the minutes they needed to develop at Liverpool. They had to leave to grow and mature as players and fly the nest.

Hughes has acted smartly as well. He didn't just discard them, he made sure Liverpool will have a say in their futures in years to come.

The club's sporting director included buy-back clauses on the trio of Ben Doak, Jarell Quansah and in Harvey Elliott's loan with an obligation to buy move to Aston Villa.

Liverpool have a sell-on clause for Tyler Morton as well, which would ensure they would get him for a significantly lower fee if they decide he's ready to return to the club.

Elliott's move has been the most intriguing of the quartet to have been let go. He's by far and away the most experienced despite only being 22-years-old.

Having arrived as a 16-year-old, he's won two Premier League titles and two League Cups and has achieved his dreams at his boyhood club.

Now he goes to Aston Villa on loan with an obligation to buy for £35m. That obligation for his transfer will be triggered when Elliott plays 10 games for Villa.

This is very likely to happen, and ultimately it's also very likely that Liverpool could activate his buy-back clause if he has a really successful season.

It's interesting to note that Elliott picked the no.9 shirt at Villa, which may indicate that he could play further forward in the Villa line-up.

If that is the case, Elliott's future return could become even more likely. Especially if he plays on the right-wing where he played at Fulham before moving to Anfield and where Liverpool will be looking for a Salah successor.

Who better for that role than Elliott? The buy-back clause being triggered is inevitable. Villa's new no.9 will return to Anfield in the future. Just like Fowler, Staunton, Rush and Bellamy before him. It's written in the stars.

This is not the end of the Liverpool Elliott chapter.

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