Transfer notebook: Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott price tag revealed, Newcastle rivals join Anthony Elanga race, why Joao Pedro chose Chelsea

Liverpool will demand a fee of more than £40million to sell England Under-21 Euros hero Harvey Elliott. 

The young midfielder is attracting plenty of interest after showing his class with five goals to help lead the Young Lions to a second consecutive European title.

Despite his clear talent, though, the 22-year-old has found himself struggling for regular minutes at Anfield.

Elliott was given just six starts in all competitions for the Reds last season and made 18 appearances in the Premier League as Liverpool lifted the title.

The arrival of Florian Wirtz in a English record £116million deal this summer has only pushed him further down the pecking order under Arne Slot.

Newcastle are among the clubs interested in the playmaker, as are German club RB Leipzig.

Jurgen Klopp – head of global soccer for Red Bull – has gone on record saying his ‘biggest regret’ from his nine years in charge of Liverpool was not giving Elliott more game time.

talkSPORT understands Elliott is keen on a move away from Anfield this summer.

More hijack fears for Newcastle

Aston Villa are the latest club to check in on Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. 

Newcastle are keen on signing the former Manchester United man and have already seen a £45million offer rejected by Forest this summer.

Forest are not budging on their valuation and are demanding any interested clubs fork out their full £60million asking price.

Talks with Newcastle are ongoing, but now Premier League rivals Aston Villa have registered their interest in the 23-year-old Sweden international.

Villa are looking to strengthen their attacking options this summer after seeing Jhon Duran depart for Saudi Arabia in January, while they also let Marcus Rashford return to Man United following his short-term loan at Villa Park.

It’s the last thing Newcastle fans will want to hear after seeing their pursuit of Joao Pedro hijacked by Chelsea.

Duran, meanwhile, is set to return from the Middle East after just six months to join with a European team.

In-demand Young Lion wanted in Germany

Sought-after Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney is emerging as a target for Bayer Leverkusen target. 

The 23-year-old was also part of England’s victorious Under-21s squad at the European U21 Championship and has been linked with a step up to the Premier League this summer.

Tottenham and Crystal Palace have both been linked with interest in Hackney – with both teams enjoying recent success recruiting from the Young Lions ranks with deals for Archie Gray and Adam Wharton.

But a move away from English football could also be on the cards.

Hackney has recently signed to the same SEG agency that represents Erik ten Hag, who took over as Leverkusen manager from Xabi Alonso this summer.

It could see Hackney become the latest young English player to develop his career in Germany, following in the footsteps of Jobe Bellingham who left Sunderland to join Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer.

New Chelsea signing dreams of World Cup

Joao Pedro believes joining Chelsea can help cement himself as a starter for Brazil at the World Cup.

Pedro has agreed a move to join the Blues in a deal worth up to £60million, after choosing Stamford Bridge over a switch to Newcastle.

The 23-year-old is already a Brazil international but has only made three appearances since making his debut for the Selecao in 2023. 

But the striker now feels he’s in a better position to stake his claim to a starting spot for his country after joining one of the Premier League’s biggest teams.

His move to Chelsea will see Pedro compete in the Champions League for the first time in his career this season.

He is also set to link up with his new team at the Club World Cup, where they will take on Brazilian side Palmeiras in the quarter-finals on Saturday.