Harvey Elliott has been an exciting prospect ever since he joined Liverpool from Fulham in 2019, aged just 16.
He shone for the academy, impressed on loan with Blackburn last term and he's lit up pre-season in an unfamiliar position as the now 18-year-old looks to make a bid for first team football.
After Curtis Jones was ruled out of the Reds' opening Premier League game this weekend through concussion, Elliott is a real contender to line up against Norwich on Saturday.
But that's not the only thing he's being considered for, as the Daily Mail have reported the youngster could be in for an England Under 21 call-up.
Elliott signed a new deal with Liverpool earlier this summer and he's been one of the most talked about players throughout pre-season.
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This has reportedly been noted by the Football Association and newly-appointed Under 21 head coach Lee Carsley, ahead of their friendly against Romania and European Championship qualifier against Kosovo next month.
Another loan spell felt inevitable after he racked up seven goals and 11 assists in 42 appearances at Ewood Park last campaign, but manager Jurgen Klopp seemingly has had other plans.
Elliott's incredible attacking threat is clear, but Klopp opted to utilise him in a deeper midfield role, which could pave the way into the first team.
With Mohamed Salah occupying the winger's preferred position, minutes would've been hard to come by for a young player still learning his trade.
"Anywhere I get told to play, I will play. As long as I have the badge on my chest, that is all that matters," Elliott said, ahead of their friendly against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
"He can play different positions, there’s absolutely no doubt about it," Klopp told liverpoolfc.com, after they went on to draw 1-1 with Bilbao.
"But in the pre-season we wanted to see him just in a deeper role because for a young player you have to learn a lot of things when you are a bit more outside and you get the ball from time to time."
The Fulham academy graduate's ability to play deeper could allow him to make that next step, as the Mail's report claims Liverpool are adamant he's ready and they may not seek a Xherdan Shaqiri replacement if he departs for Lyon this summer.
There is still a Georginio Wijnaldum shaped hole in the squad, though, after the midfielder joined Paris Saint-Germain following the expiration of his contract earlier in the window.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with a number of potential replacements, Renato Sanches and Saul Niguez are the names that have continuously cropped up in reports this summer.
Replacing Wijnaldum may be too big of an ask for Elliott, but having played just six minutes of Premier League football for Liverpool since his arrival in 2019, it's only a matter of time before he starts a league game for the Reds.
It's shaping up to be a huge season for the 18-year-old.
