Harvey Elliott has endured a difficult loan spell at Aston Villa with limited playing time
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James' Park on January 25, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Harvey Elliott has spent plenty of time on the sidelines(Image: George Wood, Getty Images)
View 4 Images
Harvey Elliott is at a pivotal moment in his career following the Liverpool star's disastrous loan stint at Aston Villa. Elliott moved to Villa at the beginning of the campaign after slipping down Arne Slot's pecking order.
But what could have been a chance to demonstrate his worth to the Dutchman has descended into a disaster in the Midlands, despite him continuing to put in maximum effort during training sessions.
The 22-year-old has managed just seven appearances across all competitions under Unai Emery, with just three of those coming as starts. Only four of those matches have come in the Premier League, where he has been on the pitch for just 13 minutes since September.
Emery's justification for sidelining Elliott revolves around a reported loan arrangement that dictates that Villa must purchase the former Fulham player for £35million once he reaches 10 games for them. However, it has now emerged that the stipulation only applies to Premier League games which means Elliott could feature more in the top-flight this term, for all that his involvement under Unai Emery has been limited so far.
Nevertheless, Elliott appears at a crossroads – both presently and in the summer. His campaign remains far from ideal, while uncertainty reigns over what lies ahead in the summer with a contract that runs until 2027.
Liverpool comeback
Elliott's devotion to Liverpool has remained strong since joining the U23s setup in 2019. He earned his Premier League debut in 2020 after a loan spell at Blackburn Rovers and has now featured 149 times for the Reds.
Following the signing of a fresh contract in 2021, Elliott spoke passionately about the club he now calls home. He said: "The love ever since the first day has been enormous. I've received so many messages. I'm thankful for everything they have given to me.
"Their support to us boys is like having a 12th man on the pitch, to be honest, and we've missed them a lot. This year will be nice to have them back, nice to have them in the stadiums, and hopefully we can prove them right this year and go and do it again.
"They are unbelievable, the fans are truly one of us; they keep us going and keep us positive. We just want to do everything for them, we want to win for them. [We'll] give it 100 per cent."
Harvey Elliott of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC at Parc des Princes on March 05, 2025 in Paris, France.
Elliott's time at Liverpool might not be over just yet(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
View 4 Images
Whilst Slot evidently didn't rate Elliott last summer, that doesn't automatically spell the end of his Anfield journey. His outstanding mentality and commitment during his loan stint at Villa speak volumes about his character, while the club is already well aware of the talent he brings.
He's scored 15 goals and provided 21 assists in red, securing two Premier League crowns and several domestic cups. A character like Elliott might well believe he can engineer a return to the club in the summer and battle his way into Slot's first team.
Help from Jurgen Klopp
During the summer of 2025, ESPN claimed that RB Leipzig were pursuing Elliott on a permanent basis from Liverpool. Back then, the Reds weren't willing to part with the midfielder permanently and faced no urgency to sanction the star's departure.
Harvey Elliott of Liverpool is embraced by Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, after the draw in the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on March 10, 2024 in Liverpool, England.
Could Klopp answer Elliott's call?(Image: Michael Regan, Getty Images)
View 4 Images
However, with the 22-year-old starved of game time at Villa, Slot appearing unconvinced and his deal expiring in 2027, Elliott might contemplate a switch to Germany - and he already has a familiar face there. Ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp joined Red Bull as head of global soccer following his departure from the Reds and could facilitate an agreement.
Following Klopp's exit from Anfield, Elliott told Amazon Prime precisely how significant the former boss is to him and the club. He said: "I'm surprised there isn't a statue of him yet. You know he's built the team up, won so many things, and he has that legacy which I think will live forever, for many, many years, until I'm even dead it will go on.
"And he deserves it, what he's done to this team, the way he's built it up and made it like a family. The players, the fans, everyone in this building, or even around the world, everyone feels together, and that's because of him.
"You know, the way he is as a person, and the way he handles everything that comes his way... He's a legend in my eyes, and he will be a legend of this club forever. Now it's like you look back on these times and in the moment you don't really think about these things becasue as a player it's always about the next game, you can't get too overwhelmed with these situations. But looking back, as I say, he's a legend."
Premier League switch
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa FC reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Aston Villa FC and FC Salzburg at Villa Park on January 29, 2026 in Birmingham, England.
Elliott could leave Anfield permanently(Image: Dan Istitene, Getty Images)
View 4 Images
Should Liverpool and Elliott conclude that a permanent departure suits both parties, a transfer to a Premier League rival could be in his future. There would probably be plenty of suitors for a player who has demonstrated his abilities in the top flight, while the remaining duration on his deal plus a potential drop in his asking price due to his limited game time might also prove attractive.
Prior to his Aston Villa move, West Ham were amongst the clubs reportedly keen on Elliott. More recently, Leeds have also been touted as a potential destination for the midfielder.
What lies ahead for the Liverpool talent remains to be seen, with a significant summer on the horizon.
Content Image
Content Image