Harvey Elliott may still be in line to return to Liverpool this month, with Aston Villa reportedly working to terminate their loan deal for the midfielder.
Elliott has found himself in limbo at Villa, with head coach Unai Emery quickly making the decision to freeze him out of his squad entirely.
Emery is not willing to play the 22-year-old so as to avoid triggering a £35 million buy clause, which would come into effect if he were to make 10 or more appearances.
That has led to the possibility of Elliott moving back to Liverpool this month, though the onus will be on Villa to not only make contact over breaking their agreement, but also negotiate a financial penalty to cancel the loan.
According to the Guardian‘s Midlands reporter Ben Fisher, Villa are “working to terminate” Elliott’s loan as they pursue AC Milan‘s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, September 17, 2024: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai (L) and AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek during the UEFA Champions League game between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. Liverpool won 3-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Loftus-Cheek is being targeted as potential cover following a long-term knee injury to Boubacar Kamara, and the 29-year-old England international clearly fits the profile of an Emery midfielder more than Elliott.
Villa are not required to end Elliott’s deal before a move can be sanctioned for Loftus-Cheek, with clubs in the Premier League restricted to two domestic loans but with scope for more temporary signings from overseas.
But it stands to reason that they would look to free up their wage bill by removing a player who is not considered theirs at all.
Liverpool deemed Elliott all but a Villa player when he made his initial loan move to Villa Park on deadline day in September, such were the terms negotiated between the two clubs.
Aston Villa's Harvey Elliott (right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Carabao Cup third round match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London. Picture date: Tuesday September 16, 2025.
No one will have foreseen the treatment he has received under Emery, with the £35 million buy clause being viewed as a formality at the time.
It remains to be seen if, in the event Elliott returns to Anfield, he will be considered as a regular in Arne Slot‘s squad, but the head coach can hardly overlook a player of his talents particularly when his squad is so thin.
Having already represented both Liverpool and Villa in competitive games this season there is no option for Elliott to join a third European club either on loan or permanently in January.
And with a move to MLS considered a non-starter despite interest from Charlotte FC, it seems plausible that the versatile youngster could be offered a lifeline by Slot for the short term.
The Big Debate
Should Arne Slot bring Harvey Elliott back into his Liverpool squad?
With Aston Villa looking to terminate Elliott’s loan deal early and another move all but impossible, the 22-year-old could be considered a valuable addition for the Reds mid-season.
Should Elliott come back in a regular role? Let us know your pick in the comments below!