Harvey Elliott will have been relishing the chance to get his career back on track when arriving at Aston Villa in the summer, but Unai Emery's decision to omit him from his entire matchday squad against Manchester City is indicative of how he's failed to win the Spaniard over.
The English midfielder joined the Villans from Liverpool on transfer deadline day, arriving on loan with an obligation to buy for £35 million should he make at least 10 appearances. But this move came amid immense division between manager Emery and former sporting director Monchi.
The pair seemed to clash over recruitment, and one has to wonder whether Elliott's acquisition was a Monchi signing rather than an Emery one. He has now missed his side's last four matches, and it's a disastrous situation for the 22-year-old, who will have been eyeing consistent game time ahead of next year's FIFA World Cup.
Elliott Needs Out of Villa
harvey elliott
Elliott was admired for his patience at Liverpool, where he waited in the wings for an opportunity at a regular starting role that didn't come. But he also dealt with several injuries that held him back from his ambition of becoming a star at Anfield.
The Reds reluctantly parted ways with the England U21 international but were persuaded to do so on the grounds that a permanent £35m deal would occur if 10 appearances are made. But he currently sits on seven across competitions, including just four in the league, and he'll be wasting valuable time if he doesn't push for a resolution now rather than later.
What was even worse for Elliott this weekend was that it was the first time he had failed to even make the bench since joining Villa. Emery preferred the likes of Ross Barkley and Jadon Sancho, which speaks volumes about the Spaniard's stance on the young Englishman.
Elliott hadn't pushed to leave Anfield in the summer, although he realised he needed more minutes. He said (via LiverpoolWorld): "If I had it my way, I would be here for the rest of my career, it's as simple as that. I love everything about the club, but at the same time, I kind of need to be selfish and see what's best for me."
Arne Slot Harvey Elliott
Liverpool have the option to recall Elliott, dubbed 'special' by the EFL, from his loan, and Arne Slot's men could certainly do with a new face in midfield, given a torrid run that has seen them lose their last four league games on the bounce. A return to Merseyside would be beneficial as he'd be keen to either prove his worth to the defending champions or play himself into another move next summer for more first-team opportunities.