Unai Emery has hinted that Harvey Elliott's loan deal with Aston Villa from Liverpool might be cut short as the limbo over his future goes on
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, speaks to Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa before he comes on as a substitute during the Premier League match between Everton and Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, speaks to Harvey Elliott before he comes on as a substitute against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 13, 2025
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(Image: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
Unai Emery has hinted that Harvey Elliott's loan deal will be cut short after insisting Aston Villa made the decision not to make his £35m agreement with Liverpool permanent two months ago.
Elliott has been frozen out at Villa Park with the club reluctant to use the on-loan midfielder due to the fact they will be obligated to push through a permanent transfer if he plays 10 times.
The 22-year-old has played four times in the Premier League with just one start since his short-term switch to Villa was agreed on September 1 and Emery confirmed the club won't be looking to make the arrangement a full-time one in his pre-match press conference for the Nottingham Forest fixture on Saturday.
"We have the issue with Harvey Elliott," Emery, who welcomed £10.5m winger Alysson to the club earlier this week, said.
"Again, I am respecting all I can because he is a very good guy, a professional and respectful guy. The situation he has with us is something I must take a decision on, but trying not to damage the player as less as possible. He deserves the best for him.
“After it, if he is leaving, we can maybe try to use the position he is [in] to let us work something [in the market]. Until now, we only signed Alysson because we believe in his potential.
“Of course, we are opening the door for players with more experience. The players we have, I am so happy. In case we are not signing more players, I am really convinced myself to get the objective we have this season."
Emery added: “The problem we have with Harvey is that he is on loan, and in case he plays matches we must buy him.
“We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to.
“This is the only issue. He is training every day with very good behaviour and to help us in training sessions.
“This is not something good for us and him, but this is football and sometimes we must make decisions.”
Having already featured for Liverpool this season, FIFA rules stipulate that Elliott cannot play for three clubs in the same season.
That means should the England Under-21 international, whose last appearance for Villa came on October 2, not return to the Reds, his only alternative would be to go on loan at a club where they have summer seasons such as MLS in the United States.
Reports today suggest that Charlotte FC, managed by former Villa boss Dean Smith, are keen to sign Elliott on loan this month.