Aston Villa ready to pay to offload first-team star

Aston Villa have opened a dialogue with Liverpool in the hope of reaching a complex agreement regarding the future of Harvey Elliott.

The 22-year-old midfielder has had a difficult time in the Midlands, with his season now in limbo due to contract stipulations and FIFA transfer rules.

Aston Villa hope to reach agreement with Liverpool

The loan, initially intended to revitalize Elliott’s season, reportedly turned into a miserable time for the player.

According to the report of AthleticsVilla made a strategic decision early on to limit Elliott’s appearances.

The club is reluctant to reach a specific threshold of 10 games, which would automatically result in trigger a player purchase obligation Since Liverpoola financial commitment that Villa apparently wishes to avoid.

The situation is complicated by the terms of the loan agreement. Liverpool do not have a recall clause, meaning the power to end the deal prematurely technically rests with Villa Aston.

However, unilaterally terminating the loan would require Villa to pay a fee, making the return to Merseyside far from simple.

Therefore, Villa officials are hoping that a new mutual agreement can be reached with the Reds to facilitate Elliott’s exit without incurring significant sanctions.

The report indicates that even if the manager Unai Emery publicly Blaming Elliott’s lack of minutes on fierce competition for the “No. 10” role, sources suggest there is significant disappointment on the player’s side over broken promises of playing time.

Despite this, Harvey Elliott was praised by staff for maintaining a professional and polite demeanor on the training ground throughout the event.

Harvey Elliott’s limited options in January

Elliott’s potential return to Liverpool presents its own set of challenges. THE ‘world classThe midfielder is currently in a regulatory impasse which could see his season effectively end if he leaves Villa Park.

Having already represented Liverpool earlier this season before moving to the Midlands, Elliott has played for two clubs during the current campaign.

According to FIFA regulations, a player cannot represent a third club in the same season. This rules out a loan move to another Premier League or European team during the winter window.

If Elliott returns to Anfield, he would likely resign himself to the sidelines unless he secures a move to a league operating on a different schedule, such as Major League Soccer or the Saudi Pro League.

As discussions continue, both clubs must weigh the financial implications against the development of a player who is desperate for an opportunity to prove himself.

Limited opportunities under Arne Slot

Elliott’s move to Villa Park was born out of a desperate need for regular football after a stalled 2024-25 campaign. While the midfielder was a key figure under Jurgen Klopp, he struggled to find minutes during Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield.

Despite making 28 appearances across all competitions last season, Elliott was limited to just six starts, with his total minutes dropping dramatically to 822, a stark contrast to the 2,700+ minutes he enjoyed the year before.

He was frequently used as an impact substitute, a role highlighted by his spectacular goal against PSG in the Champions League.

However, with stiff competition blocking his path to the starting XI, Elliott was eventually loaned out to jump-start his development ahead of the 2026 World Cup.