Unai Emery has some big decisions to make in the coming weeks. As impressive as Aston Villa have been so far this season, they're currently on a run of one win in five games in all competitions.
With Manchester United applying the pressure and Liverpool beginning to find form in the race for a Champions League place, now is the time for the Aston Villa boss to be ruthless.
unai-emery-aston-villa-premier-league
That is unlikely to result in another chance for Harvey Elliott, however. Emery made his mind up on the Liverpool loanee from the get-go and a buy clause has left the midfielder watching on from the reserves.
Harvey Elliott's season in numbers
On paper, Elliott is a 22-year-old, versatile midfielder who is already a two-time Premier League winner. He should be one of the most sought-after young players in the country. The reality is that both Liverpool and Aston Villa have been battling to avoid his signature all season.
Harvey Elliott for Aston Villa
It's been as ruthless as it gets for a young player. In one of Monchi's final acts as Villa's sporting director, he welcomed a player that Emery - as we now know - clearly never fancied and it's Elliott who has paid the price.
Of course, had this been a loan move without any strings attached, then the 22-year-old would have likely received an abundance of cameos from the bench and a real chance to change Emery's mind.
Alas, the deal includes what has proved to be the most frustrating buy clause. It states that, if Elliott plays ten Premier League games, Aston Villa are obliged to secure his signature for around £30m.
Harvey Elliott Minutes 25/26 Appearances
Premier League 110 5
Europa League 94 2
Carabao Cup 67 1
Amid their PSR struggles, it is simply money that the Villans are not willing to part with for a player who hasn't impressed.
Just what's next for the Liverpool youngster remains to be seen. Arne Slot has often avoided questions on the midfielder, claiming that he is Aston Villa's player - Aston Villa's problem. It has been a brutal time for Elliott.
But, he's not the only one who should be watching on from the bench at Aston Villa. It's time for Emery to get ruthless and drop another midfielder.
Aston Villa loanee must get the Elliott treatment
Aston Villa are finding out the hard way that not all loan deals work out as well as Marco Asensio's and Marcus Rashford's did last season - especially as Douglas Luiz continues to struggle.
The Brazilian returned to Villa Park on loan from Juventus in the January transfer window with an option to buy of £21.7m, thus cutting his Nottingham Forest spell short in the process. At long last, he was back at the place where he last showed his top form.
Douglas Luiz career statsDouglas Luiz's stats before re-signing for Aston Villa
There was a belief that there would quickly prove to be no place like home for the midfielder, but that has not proved to be the case. Luiz's struggles have simply continued and Emery now has a decision to make.
|Douglas Luiz - 25/26 Premier League|
|Stats (* = per 90 mins)|Number|
|---|
|Minutes|656|
|Successful Passes *|56.52|
|Chances Created *|2.06|
|Dribbled Past *|0.69|
The numbers aren't entirely disastrous. The midfielder is still reliable in possession. It's off the ball that he's been more exposed than ever in the last 12 months, whether it's been at Nottingham Forest, Juventus or Villa.
In almost every Emery side throughout his managerial career, he has not allowed for passengers and Luiz should be no different. Like Elliott, Villa should not secure the midfielder's signature on a permanent deal this summer.
Douglas-Luiz-Aston-Villa
This time, the ball is at least in their court. Their deal with Juventus includes an option and not an obligation to buy the Brazilian, who has been made to regret leaving the Midlands club in the first place.
Injuries aren't helping those at Villa Park and that's why Luiz has started the last four Premier League games. The fact that Emery's side have won just one of those games should tell the Spaniard all he needs to know about the Juventus midfielder.
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