Exclusive: Liverpool enter talks with club over skilful playmaker with 7 goals and 12 assists

Sources close to Anfield Central claim that Liverpool have received contact from newly promoted side Brentford over the superb Harvey Elliott after he shone in the Championship last season.

It's difficult to believe that he's just 18 years old and while his stature and physical build tell the truth about his age, the way he manipulates the ball and teaches fully grown men football lessons is astounding.

Only Emiliano Buendia (16) and Michael Olise (12) got more assists than Elliott (11) this season while fellow Liverpool loanee, Harry Wilson, also managed 11.

Elliott also scored 7 times and while there is no doubting that he is a special talent, being a left-footed right-winger is actually working against him currently as there is no chance he can displace Mohamed Salah.

So with Liverpool keen for his development to continue at a rapid pace, they are looking to send him out on loan and as we reported exclusively in mid-April, the Reds would greatly prefer to see him play in the Premier League.

That said, our sources suggest that there are major concerns over whether or not a club in the Premier League can guarantee that they can match the 43 appearances he made this season at Blackburn.

Liverpool are in contact with both Blackburn and Brentford but the main objective from the Reds is to get Elliott playing as much as possible and at as high a level as they can and even though they will naturally include penalties regarding game time in any deal, they know that financial repercussions aren't always enough to ensure clubs play loanees.

Nothing is cut and dry regarding a loan to Brentford but even in the Premier League, you have to stop and wonder how many assists Elliott could get playing with a forward like Ivan Toney, who scored 33 goals in the Championship this season.

A month ago, the Athletic's Mark Carey suggested that Harvey Elliott could one day play a 'David Silva role' for Liverpool if he doesn't develop into a fast, high-scoring forward.

He said: “Elliott has the ability to add more goals to his game by getting into better areas to shoot and perhaps become a little more selfish.

“However, if he isn’t going to be the ruthless goalscorer that Liverpool have had over the years, then Klopp is one of the best in world football at crafting a position that best suits the attributes of his players.

“Could the youngster benefit from a ‘David Silva’ role where he picks up space in central areas as an advanced ‘free eight’?

“Elliott could be drafted in an inside-right position in midfield, in the mould of Xherdan Shaqiri – bringing some added flair to a traditionally workmanlike midfield in recent years.”