Liverpool has already been impacted by Harvey Elliott's previous transfer situation at Aston Villa, and now Chelsea could face similar difficulties
Xabi Alonso, Manager of Chelsea, reacts during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge
Xabi Alonso may have also been stung by a previous Liverpool transfer mistake(Image: (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
Chelsea and Xabi Alonso could be stung by a transfer situation that is playing out eerily similar to that of Harvey Elliott, as doubts have arisen over a recent switch from Stamford Bridge to Aston Villa.
Liverpool has spent the past year paying the price for a frustrating situation with the Premier League rival, after the two clubs agreed a loan deal that saw Elliott move to Villa Park last summer.
It was an initial loan deal, but it included a permanent transfer clause that would be activated when the playmaker made a certain number of appearances.
That appearance number was believed to be low and easily achievable, but it quickly became clear that despite joining under Unai Emery, the manager didn't prefer to use the 23-year-old.
Elliott battled away to be part of the head coach's thinking, but it was to no use. There were questions about whether the deal could be re-negotiated, or if a return to Liverpool was on the cards in January, but nothing changed.
Instead, the Liverpool ace returned to Merseyside this summer, leaving the club with a decision to make on his future after it seemed almost certain that he would be an Aston Villa player for the foreseeable future.
After a year of very few minutes, the Reds have had to help rebuild Elliott's career, as he moved to Valencia in La Liga on loan for the season, with the hope that he can find some form.
While that may raise question marks over future business structured in that way for Liverpool, it hasn't stopped other clubs from engaging with Aston Villa in such a way. Chelsea agreed a loan exit for Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentinian winger moving to the West Midlands for the season with easily achievable targets in a permanent deal clause that could see him join the club officially next summer.
Alejandro Garnacho before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Hull City and Aston Villa FC.
Alejandro Garnacho has been left on the bench for the last three games in all competitions. (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
The terms of that deal appear to be tougher to meet. Garnacho has featured just three times for Aston Villa so far, all from the bench, with the winger recently snubbed for a first start in the EFL Cup against Coventry City.
With that in mind, the Daily Mail reports that the 22-year-old is facing an uphill battle to get into the team, while journalist Tom Collomosse claimed: "Hemmings, McGinn, Alysson, Mbaye, Buendia — Emery will pick all of them over Garnacho. It would take quite a turnaround for the ‘easily achievable’ £43m [$57.4 million] obligation to be triggered."
It puts Alonso and his Chelsea side in a similar situation to Liverpool over the past year, which could see Garnacho return to the club after a loan that was expected to see him join permanently.
The toughest part of it all is the reputation hit from such a move. The lack of minutes means players are not able to show their qualities or get into the rhythm that allows them to make an impact.
It's a spiral from there, as a return to the club will come with a hit to the player's transfer value, and that in turn creates a challenge in trying to secure the next move in their career, if the head coach decides they are not part of the plans moving forward.
There is still time for Garnacho to turn it around at Aston Villa, but the situation is looking eerily similar to that of Elliott, who was in the same predicament this time last year.