Arne Slot disregards Jurgen Klopp's biggest Liverpool regret with $47M transfer

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has approved Harvey Elliott's departure after Aston Villa agreed to a £35 million ($47 million) transfer - just a year after Jurgen Klopp admitted he wished he had given the midfielder more opportunities.

Elliott has been subject to exit speculation throughout the summer following his struggle to secure regular first-team soccer under Slot last season. The midfielder managed only two Premier League starts last campaign and was largely restricted to cup competition appearances.

Villa has secured a season-long loan arrangement for Elliott with a mandatory purchase clause next year worth around $47 million. The 22-year-old will now head to the Midlands for his medical as he prepares to bring his six-year Anfield tenure to a close, having arrived from Fulham in 2019.

He departs with two Premier League winners' medals and several cup victories to his name, and he will be eager to make a greater impression under Unai Emery at Villa.

Slot appeared unconvinced by Elliott's contributions last season and was comfortable sanctioning his exit to help balance the finances following Alexander Isak's acquisition.

The Dutch coach has chosen to ignore the counsel of his predecessor Klopp, who originally brought the player to Liverpool. The German manager expressed regret over not utilising the England youth international more frequently during his final campaign.

(Image: Getty Images)

Speaking last year, Klopp said: "If I regret one thing a little bit it's that Harvey didn't play often enough maybe.

"Because in a very important, intense period – January, a lot of injuries – he played really good.

"He was probably our best player, right wing, right midfield, all these kinds of things."

Elliott has already signalled his intention to depart Liverpool this summer, confessing that he doesn't want to "waste years of my career" on the bench.

He said: "I don't really want to be wasting years of my career because it's a short career. You don't know what's going to happen.

"I need to reflect. I need to see if I'm content in doing what I'm doing and how can I improve as a player because that's the most important thing.

"I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself. If that's to go somewhere else, then it's a decision that I'm going to have to make and I just need to see what happens.

"Nothing makes me want to leave. I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well. But most importantly, it's just about what's best for my career.

"After my injury, I think it was always going to be hard, but I'd hoped I would have got some more opportunities - but football is football."

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