Harvey Elliott and 3 more players could give Liverpool new January transfer headaches

Liverpool could be set for a busy January transfer window, and the prospect of four players returning early from loans won't make things any easier for Arne Slot or Richard Hughes

Harvey Elliott could be one of four Liverpool players returning to Anfield in January(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool could find itself a lot busier in January than it would have hoped, with four players potentially set for an early return to Anfield.

The transfer window is now just a couple of weeks away from opening, and despite going on a huge spending spree during the summer on the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, there may still be some work to do for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes on their squad.

A new defender could be top of the list, especially after missing out on Marc Guehi on deadline day, while some more reinforcements in attack may be needed with Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo injured - and that’s before we get into the potential outgoings.

There is of course a major question still over Salah’s future after his recent outburst, but Liverpool may well have decisions to make on four other players who look as though they could be heading back to Merseyside earlier than expected.

Harvey Elliott’s predicament at Aston Villa is well known at this point, and he might be joined by fellow loanees Kostas Tsimikas, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas in returning to Liverpool next month.

All four have struggled to make an impact after making temporary moves during the summer, and may well have to look at getting game time elsewhere once the chance arrives.

Kostas Tsimikas joined Roma on loan from Liverpool during the summer(Image: Getty Images)

The prospect of Tsimikas returning early has been discussed in reports in Italy, with Roma said to be looking to offload some players with an eye on making new signings. The Greek international has not been able to hold down a regular place in Gian Pierro Gasperini’s side, having started just two of the last nine league games.

McConnell is reportedly set to return from Ajax (as per ESPN) - the midfielder was signed on loan by former Liverpool coach John Heitinga, although his opportunities have been limited since the former defender’s dismissal as head coach.

Koumas, meanwhile, has made 16 Championship appearances for Birmingham, although only four of those have been from the start, with most of his opportunities coming via cameos from the bench. Blues boss Chris Davies has admitted himself that a return to Liverpool could be on the cards.

Lewis Koumas could be set to return to Liverpool from his loan at Birmingham City

“I always say if you’re not playing, I hope you’re getting as much development as you can in terms of training, meetings and coaching, but they all want the game time so if it comes to a point with Lewis, as an example, where he’s not feeling he’s getting the game time, or Liverpool feel he’s not, or we come to a situation, then we would look at it,” Davies said earlier this month, as per BirminghamLive.

The good news for Tsimikas, McConnell and Koumas is that, should they return to Liverpool next month, they would be able to go back out on loan with another club, provided they don’t make an appearance for the Reds before a deal is agreed.

It’s a lot more complicated for Elliott though. Liverpool sent him to Aston Villa expecting his move to be made permanent, with a clause stipulating that the obligation would be met after just 10 appearances.

Elliott though finds himself having been cast aside by Unai Emery, and having already made an appearance for Liverpool before making the move to Villa Park, he can’t now move to another club.

His only options therefore are to stay at Villa, where Emery seems determined to not meet that 10-appearances threshold, or head back to Liverpool, where he was already struggling for opportunitie, creating yet another headache for Slot and Hughes at an already busy time.