“I put the feelers out…”: MLS manager confirms interest in signing “excellent” Liverpool midfielder

Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith. (REUTERS)

Liverpool’s season has swung sharply back in the right direction.

After a stuttering start that briefly put Arne Slot under serious pressure, the Reds have steadied themselves and are now firmly in the mix on multiple fronts.

Sitting fourth in the Premier League and occupying the same spot in the Champions League league phase, automatic qualification for the knockouts is well within reach.

That resurgence, however, has not benefited everyone on Liverpool’s books.

One loanee in particular has found minutes hard to come by — and that situation has now caught the attention of an unexpected suitor across the Atlantic.

Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith has confirmed his side are exploring a move for Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa.

Elliott joined Villa last summer in a deal that included a conditional obligation to buy, but his lack of game time has effectively ended any chance of a permanent switch. The 21-year-old has made just five appearances in all competitions, with Villa deciding against triggering the clause.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Smith revealed he has already sounded out the possibility of bringing Elliott to Major League Soccer after visiting Villa over the festive period.

“I put the feelers out, obviously, when I was over there. I was thinking about it and thought, there is an opportunity here,” Smith said. “If he is not going to play at Villa and he can’t play anywhere else, then it would be an option for him to come and play some games up until the World Cup break.”

Smith added: “If he is not playing between now and the World Cup, it is a shame. There is an opportunity for him to come out and play here if that is what Liverpool or Villa wanted to do.”

Earlier this month, Unai Emery confirmed Villa’s stance on the midfielder — once described as “excellent” by former boss Neil Critchley — admitting the club had already made a decision not to proceed with a permanent deal.

“We decided two months ago we were not convinced to sign him, spending the money we need,” Emery explained.

With the MLS transfer window running from January 26 to March 26, Charlotte have time to firm up their interest. For Elliott, a temporary move to the United States could offer regular football and a fresh platform — something that has so far eluded him this season in England.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.

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