Harvey Elliott has had a challenging time at Aston Villa this season.placeholder image
Harvey Elliott has had a challenging time at Aston Villa this season. | Getty Images
A fresh update has emerged surrounding Harvey Elliott, with his Aston Villa future unclear
Aston Villa have enjoyed a strong campaign in 2025/26, sitting impressively in third place in the Premier League, but one man who has not had the easiest time at Villa Park is Harvey Elliott.
The 22-year-old signed on an initial loan deal from Liverpool on summer transfer deadline day, with an obligation for Villa to sign him permanently for £35million once the England Under-21 star had made ten appearances for the club.
It became clear quite soon after that manager Unai Emery and the Villa hierarchy were not keen on activating this permanent buy clause. Elliott, therefore, has only made seven appearances for Aston Villa this season.
Elliott future update as £20m claim emerges
Reports by Football Insider suggest that Elliott may be given the chance to play out the season at Aston Villa, if the Villans and Liverpool can come to an agreement to bring down his permanent transfer fee to around £20m – which might be seen as more justifiable for the West Midlands outfit to spend considering the recent financial constraints on the club.
That is according to ex-Aston Villa, Everton, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, who believes Liverpool should look to reach a new agreement to avoid their asset depreciating in value further.
Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness said: “They’re very tight on budget, so it’s going to have to be something like £15m or £20m they might be able to accept, and you know they’ll be allowed to play him more than the 10 games this season. I think he’s at seven or eight, but anyway that’s the sort of negotiation I think that will happen, and I think it could work out for both teams.
“I don’t think that he’d be at £35m anyway if he came back to Liverpool or was free in the summer. I don’t think Liverpool are going to get the £35m for him. So, I think they’re better off seeing if they can get something done with Villa right now.
“So that’s the dynamics at play, and I’d hope it can get resolved. I think for both groups and for the player himself, I think that makes sense. But he’s got Douglas Luiz now back at Villa as well, who’s a very good player from the inside out. So, there’s competition in that midfield for Unai Emery. They’re still in Europe. So, look, I hope it gets resolved, but that’s the way I would see it happening if it’s going to get resolved.”
Emery reveals all on Elliott situation in telling interview
Villa manager Emery recently expressed his true thoughts on the circumstances surrounding Elliott, claiming the player is being “damaged” by the situation and calling for Liverpool to amend the agreement with his club by removing the compulsory purchase clause.
Emery said he has “opened the door” for Elliott to play and help Aston Villa on the pitch but emphasised that this is both a sport and a business decision.
He added: "We are speaking about it [taking off the clause] but not now. 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 to, okay."
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