Harvey Elliott has spent the first half of the season on loan with Aston Villa but Unai Emery’s side are unwilling to pay the £35million to make the move a permanent one
Harvey Elliott has struggled since leaving Liverpool to join Aston Villa on loan back in the summer.(Image: )
Aston Villa are set to recall Leon Bailey from his loan spell with AS Roma in yet another blow for Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott who has struggled for regular minutes since his summer move to Villa Park. The decision to recall the Jamaican international comes just a few days after Unai Emery’s side gave Donyel Malen the green light to join AS Roma until the end of the season.
The Dutch forward enjoyed a dream debut and scored on his debut in a 2-0 Serie A win at Torino on Sunday, while Villa drew a blank in a 1-0 defeat to Everton. Bailey’s return will see him reintegrated into the Villa squad having had to negotiate a release for the forward, due to no termination clause in the agreement with the Italian club.
Roma also had the option to buy the player for around £19m. His return will only make matters more difficult for Elliott to force his way into Emery’s thinking, just when Malen’s departure had removed a potential hurdle.
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Liverpool had been hopeful of banking £35million from an option-to-buy agreement with Villa, but the England youth international has made just seven appearances in all competitions and has not featured in the Premier League since late September.
Villa will have to pay the full £35million to buy Elliott if he makes 10 appearances, but Emery’s side decided they would not be taking up that option two months ago and the two clubs were in talks over a resolution.
“We have the issue with Harvey Elliott. Again, I am respecting all I can because he is a very good guy, a professional and respectful guy,” Emery explained. “The situation he has with us is something I must take a decision on, but trying not to damage the player as less as possible. He deserves the best for him.
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“After it, if he is leaving, we can maybe try to use the position he is (in) to let us work something (in the market). Until now, we only signed Alysson because we believe in his potential.
“Of course, we are opening the door for as well some players with more experience. But with the players we have, how they are performing and getting their level, I am so happy.
“In case we are not signing more players, I am really convinced myself to get the objective we have this season.”
Emery added: “The problem we have with Harvey is that he is on loan, and in case he plays matches we must buy him. We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to.
“This is the only issue. He is training every day with very good behaviour and to help us in training sessions. This is not something good for us and him, but this is football and sometimes we must make decisions.”
The Reds are unable to recall Elliott, with Arne Slot stating earlier this month: “If you want to ask about a (Aston) Villa player, ask Unai Emery. Liverpool has no recall option.”
The 22-year-old is stuck in limbo having appeared for the Reds earlier this season in the Premier League, meaning he can’t head out on loan to another club.
The Athletic claim there had been no contact from Villa’s end about renegotiating the terms of the loan as of the first week of January, suggesting that keeping Elliott as an extra body in training until the end of the season is the most likely outcome.
The Liverpool loanee has been linked with a move to the MLS to join Charlotte FC, but is reportedly not keen on the move.
