Aston Villa are looking increasingly unlikely to seal a permanent deal for Harvey Elliott amid concerns over his game time.
According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are reportedly leaning towards sending Harvey Elliott back to Liverpool as they may not seal a permanent deal for the attacking midfielder. The on-loan Liverpool prospect is currently enduring a difficult period at Villa Park, and there is a huge chance he returns to Anfield in January.
Aston Villa made some decent signings at the end of the transfer window, when there were concerns raised over their lack of incoming activity. The idea for Unai Emery was to bring in players who could help the team qualify for the UEFA Champions League via their league positions, as well as target a Europa League triumph.
Harvey Elliott was a late signing for Aston Villa, with the Liverpool prospect arriving on a loan deal with a conditional purchase obligation included in the contract. The report states that Elliott needs to make at least five appearances in the Premier League for Aston Villa to trigger the £35 million clause, but so far he has made four.
With Emery not using him too much, Elliott has only accumulated 96 minutes of action across four appearances so far. With the player seemingly not performing at the levels Aston Villa probably want, the chances of the manager selecting him again in the league seem remote, as they do not want to risk triggering the £35 million obligation clause in the Liverpool misfit’s contract.
Emery recently commented on Harvey Elliott’s situation, stating, “He is one of our players, and hopefully he can help us. Then, we are going to decide. There are other players performing very well. This is the main reason.”
Liverpool have pondered recalling Elliott in January, which could complicate the attacking midfielder’s future moving forward. As for Aston Villa, they look increasingly unlikely to keep the £35 million-rated Liverpool misfit permanently, as he is now primed to make a return to Anfield in the winter window.
What next for Harvey Elliott?
The primary reason for Liverpool to sanction an exit for Elliott stemmed from the big-money arrival of Florian Wirtz. The German international has been a disastrous signing so far for the club, and with his current injury concerns set to keep him out for a long time, Liverpool could potentially make use of Elliott in the second half of the season.
Liverpool could also sell Harvey Elliott if he returns from his loan in January, as he does not fit into Arne Slot’s plans. There are also concerns over the manager’s future at the club, as a new appointment could look at the English playmaker as a potential option for the squad moving forward.