Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott’s loan spell at Aston Villa has taken an unexpected turn, and now both clubs are quietly weighing their options.
With the midfielder barely featuring and a major financial clause hanging over the deal, supporters are wondering whether a January twist could be on the way.
And just when the noise around the situation grew louder, Unai Emery finally spoke — though his words may raise even more questions.
This story has turned into one of the most watched Liverpool subplots of the season. Elliott left Anfield seeking minutes, but the minutes never arrived. Now fans want to know: will he stay at Villa, or is a Liverpool return on the horizon?
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A quiet spell and a big clause
Elliott has made only five appearances for Villa, totaling just 167 minutes. For a player who arrived with confidence from England U21 success, this limited role was not part of the plan.
The loan includes an obligation to buy worth £35 million — but only if Elliott plays 10 matches. That explains why the midfielder has not appeared since early October. Villa are reportedly hesitant to trigger the clause, especially with UEFA financial rules tightening.
But here’s where things get tricky: Elliott cannot play for a third club this season because he already featured for Liverpool before joining Villa. That leaves only two choices — stay at Villa or return to Anfield.
Emery finally responds but what does it really mean for Harvey Elliott?
Speaking ahead of Villa’s next European fixture, Emery addressed Elliott’s situation, though not with a clear yes or no.
On Elliott’s future, he said:
“We now have a lot of matches. We must focus on each match with the players we have now. We are not thinking about the transfer window in January. He is one of our players and hopefully he can help us. Then, we are going to decide.”
Asked why Elliott has barely played, Emery added:
“Firstly, there are other players performing very well. This is the first argument of why he is not playing. He is training very well every day.”
The comments suggest that Emery is open to using Elliott, but not fully convinced he fits into his long-term plans. Villa’s upcoming run — six matches in 17 days — may offer opportunities, but the buy-clause shadow remains over every selection.
What Anfield Home thinks?
The situation feels like a classic loan gone sideways. Elliott needed minutes, but he has received almost none. Liverpool will not want his value to dip, especially when the buy obligation depends on appearances Villa seem unwilling to grant.
If January brings a mutual decision to end the loan, a return to Liverpool would make sense. Arne Slot may still see use in Elliott, especially with depth stretched this season. At the very least, it would allow the club to reassess his long-term role.
For now, it’s a waiting game — and one Liverpool fans will be keeping a very close eye on.