Liverpool set to REPLACE Harvey Elliott in €30m deal

Even though it may not seem like it due to the exceptional performances the side are putting in every three days at current, Liverpool’s squad is in a period of transition.

Realistically, the side could be starting with two new full backs, a new centre-back and two new attackers at the bare minimum come the start of next season.

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And although Liverpool’s midfield is operating at a high level right now, there are still questions over the more attacking part of the operation.

Dominik Szoboszlai has found some finer form of late but was displaced earlier in the season by Curtis Jones, who himself has dropped further back to replace Alexis Mac Allister when necessary.

A definite option in the position now that he has returned from injury is Harvey Elliott, who had his first start of the season against Southampton last night and was exemplary in doing so - although he largely operated off the right.

Liverpool have been linked to another player who operates in both attacking midfield and off the right - Lyon’s Rayan Cherki.

The Reds are now reportedly directly in line to sign Cherki as early as the January transfer window, with Lyon in dire financial trouble.

The French side have been handed a provisional relegation from Ligue 1 at the end of this season if they can't demonstrate a healthier financial outlook, meaning a fire-sale of their top talents seems inevitable.

A lowdown on Cherki was provided in this exclusive interview with French football expert Robin Bairner for Anfield Watch, explaining just how good the French player is.

It’s an interesting proposition as Liverpool already have an established player in that mould on the books at the club in Elliott. So would Cherki be worth it?

Rayan Cherki vs Harvey Elliott

A look at the underlying numbers from Cherki’s current season and Elliott last season (due to lack of game time right now) suggests he would be but has a different profile to Elliott.

Attacking-wise they are similar, but Cherki outweighs him in almost all areas. The French star achieves 3.71 progressive carries and 9.14 progressive passes per-90 to Elliott’s 2.93 and 8.53, respectively.

He also holds 7.43 shot-creating actions per-90 to Elliott’s 5.19 and 3.29 key passes to the Liverpool man’s 2.47.

Cherki also holds 12 goal involvements in all competitions this season to Elliot’s 15 across the entirety of last season, showing an ability to convert to actual output at a better rate.

Where they differ is in defensive work, which Arne Slot does desire from every member of his team.

Elliott achieved 2.2 tackles and interceptions per-90 last year to Cherki’s 1.29 per-90 in this campaign, at a 32.3% tackle rate to Cherki’s 25%. Elliott also demolishes the French player in blocks, with 1.8 to 0.43, showing just how different the two are defensively.

As a result, if Cherki were to be incorporated into the team, it would present a different proposition to how the team operate now. Whilst we have no doubt Slot would get the necessary pressing out of him, his natural creativity would provide a central and wide creative option with greater output than Elliott has shown he can achieve.

It would leave Elliott out in the cold, signing a player his age who is already doing more.

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