Harvey Elliott remains in limbo at Aston Villa as his loan club were unable to renegotiate their deal with Liverpool, who were claimed to be “not playing ball.”
Villa are obliged to sign Elliott for £35 million if he makes 10 league appearances and, unwilling to do so, his chances of game time depended on Liverpool renegotiating.
But as former Liverpool managing director and, as recently as June 2023, Villa CEO Christian Purslow explained on talkSPORT, the race for Champions League qualification meant the champions “weren’t playing ball.”
“There was an obvious opportunity to recut the deal, but the non-negotiable for Villa would have been ‘we cannot buy the player in the summer’,” Purslow said.
“Liverpool weren’t playing ball. And they weren’t playing ball because of what has been hanging over the last few weeks, which is the top five outcome.
“The stakes on Champions League qualification are so high, probably £90 million to £100 million of revenue next year in or out.
“Frankly the £5 million to £10 million you might lose if Harvey Elliott doesn’t kick a ball and bounces back in the summer is peanuts if Liverpool are fifth or Villa fifth.
“That’s why Liverpool aren’t playing ball.
“There is one ‘but’. I’ve noticed they’ve briefed out that the 10 games [needed to trigger Elliott’s buy clause] is Premier League games, so I think there’s a decent chance we see Harvey Elliott playing in the Europa League.”
Why is Unai Emery not using Harvey Elliott and could he still play?
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.
Elliott briefly came back into the Villa squad at the end of January but, after a start in the Europa League and a cameo in the Premier League, has since missed the last five games.
Though currently recovering from a minor injury, the midfielder’s situation is largely due to the terms of his loan.
Villa head coach Unai Emery has already confirmed he has no intention of signing Elliott on a permanent deal, with Purslow indicating that he was not a player the Spaniard wanted and was instead brought in by departed sporting director Monchi.
Harvey Elliott: 2025/26 Appearance Tracker
Competition Appearances Trigger Counted?
Premier League 4 YES (6 to go)
Europa League 2 NO
FA Cup 1 NO
League Cup 0 NO
Total Apps 7 —
* Note: The £35m mandatory purchase clause is only triggered by Premier League appearances. Harvey Elliott is currently sidelined with a fresh injury.
Having already played four times for Villa in the league he could be used on five more occasions without triggering the £35 million clause, as well as throughout the remainder of the Europa League campaign.
But with Villa currently fourth in the Premier League and Liverpool three points behind them in fifth, it is clear that the Reds will not allow them any unnecessary boosts as they both vie for Champions League football.
Elliott is therefore the unfortunate casualty in this situation because, as Purslow points out, Liverpool would be happier to miss out on a chunk of his resale value than any Champions League prize money next season.