Harvey Elliott is struggling at Aston Villa.placeholder image
Harvey Elliott is struggling at Aston Villa. | Getty Images
The Liverpool loanee is struggling to impress on loan at Aston Villa this season.
West Ham and Crystal Palace were credited with serious transfer interest in Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott this summer but the 22-year-old ended up joining Premier League rivals Aston Villa on a loan deal.
Since making the move to Villa Park, Elliott has started just one Premier League match and has now been axed from the squad in a ruthless decision from Villains boss Unai Emery.
Elliott was not named in the squad to take on Manchester City or AFC Bournemouth - also missing out against parent club Liverpool. Speaking prior to those matches, Emery maintained that the midfielder was ‘playing well’ but that there simply might not be space for him.
Aston Villa boss freezes out Liverpool loanee
The Aston Villa manager said: "I am being very, very demanding myself to choose in each match the player to start and the players on the bench and the subs players, and firstly is always trying to get the best performance collectively, through individual players.
"Harvey is a 10 in our structure, in our shape, and he plays some matches, and there is still adaptation to add himself individually in our structure. Of course, he is training well, and his commitment is being very well as well, but his performance was not enough (up to this point).
"At the same time, we have other players who can play as 10, and they are performing well, and I have different players. This is the main reason he is not playing the last match but he has to continue working like he is doing in the training session, and of course getting his confidence in the performance."
West Ham and Crystal Palace linked with summer swoop for Harvey Elliott
If Elliott continues to be frozen out at Villa Park, it could prompt talk of a recall to Liverpool with the Reds unlikely to be happy at the idea of their player dwindling in value. That could open the door for Crystal Palace and West Ham to register interest once again, if such a move is still of interest.
In his latest GiveMeSport newsletter, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano was asked if there was a ‘way back’ for the player at Aston Villa. He said: “At the moment, it depends on his performances in training. The situation is still not changing and of course, Elliott is not happy.”
Elliott hasn’t been helped by the form of Villa teammate Emi Buendia, who has found himself back in the fold after a rumoured exit this summer. The 28-year-old has four goals and two assists so far this season.
In other news, Fabrizio Romano confirms striker's 'absolute priority' amid West Ham, Man Utd and Aston Villa links.
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