Harvey Elliott joined Aston Villa on loan on summer transfer deadline day, but has so far only made seven appearances for the club
Harvey Elliott has returned to the Aston Villa squad for their last two matches
Harvey Elliott has returned to the Aston Villa squad for their last two matches
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Unai Emery has thrown the gauntlet down to Liverpool to "take off the clauses" in Harvey Elliott's loan deal after the attacking midfielder's return to the fold at Aston Villa.
Elliott has featured in Villa's last two matches having previously been left out in the cold by Emery, with the 22-year-old playing 90 minutes in the 3-2 Europa League win over RB Salzburg and coming off the bench in last weekend's 1-0 Premier League defeat to Brentford.
His previous Villa appearance prior to that had been in a late cameo in the 2-0 victory over Feyenoord on October 2, one of only five games he played in for the club in 2025 after joining on loan from the Reds with a view to a permanent deal on summer transfer deadline day.
That permanent £35m switch would only be triggered after Elliott had made 10 appearances for Villa, something that was seen as a formality when he joined the club.
But Emery had been reluctant to pick him before his recent change of mind, with Villa - who are seven points and three places above Liverpool in the Premier League - currently without midfielders Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and John McGinn through injury, as well as forward Ollie Watkins.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Bournemouth, Emery addressed Elliott's future and put the ball in Liverpool's court, while also seemingly ruling out the idea of buying him permanently.
"I spoke with him," said Emery. "We have been fair because there are two ways. One way is a sport, the second is business. We'll be fair in case, because we are trying it.
"And I told him, I spoke a few times with Harvey. Harvey, now I am opening the door to play with us, because he can help us. But it's not only on my side. The other side is Liverpool, if they take off the clauses to play matches and for us to buy him.
"(I said to him) 'you are going to play here with us, it's a sport decision,'. But now it's a sport decision and a business decision. My sport decision is still there - 'you are deserving to play, we need your qualities in the field, you are going to play.' But in case, the clauses are still there and now it is Liverpool - they have the key. And I told him. It will be fair for him in case Liverpool take off this clause."
Emery added that discussions have been taking place over changing the clause in Elliott's deal, while he praised his displays and attitude in recent weeks.
"We are speaking about it (taking off the clause), but not now," he said. "We started speaking about it three months ago. Of course, the transfer window was finished on Monday.
"It will be fair for him, because he's a calm guy, good guy, and he's a fantastic professional. And then his qualities are there.
"Of course he must play, and he's really being passionate. And I know we are damaging him, because we got a deal with Liverpool in the summer and the deal is there, and we are taking the decision responsibly from my side. It can change for him, in case Liverpool take off this clause. If they don't want, okay."
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