Aston Villa legend questions Liverpool over Harvey Elliott decision with Unai Emery claim
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Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has questioned Liverpool about leaving Harvey Elliott in the Midlands this season, making a claim about manager Unai EmeryHarvey Elliott is on loan at Aston Villa.(Image: Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi via Getty Images)Harvey Elliott has made just nine appearances for Aston Villa this season, and his move from Liverpool has far from gone to plan. Few thought that he wouldn't be a good fit at Villa Park and that it wouldn't become his long-term home.It quickly became clear that the move wouldn't pan out as planned, though, and another big decision on what to do looms for Elliott, who is likely to be on the move again when the summer comes.READ MORE: Juventus chief denies Mohamed Salah transfer claim as Liverpool star decides next moveREAD MORE: How many points Liverpool needs to qualify for Champions League after Chelsea loss"It is such a shame," Gabby Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT.
"He probably thought Aston Villa would be the perfect place and he might even get on the plane for the World Cup."Liverpool hasn’t helped because the deal could have been changed in January. He could have played in as many games and got rid of the fee, but Liverpool didn’t want to change that."You can’t blame Unai Emery.
He doesn’t want to spend a big chunk of his budget for the summer."It would have been possible for Liverpool to change the terms of the deal mid-season to remove the buy clause that was inserted, with Emery claiming that talks were held about doing so.Harvey Elliott during his loan spell at Aston Villa(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Essentially, the Spaniard said that under the current terms of the deal, after a certain number of appearances, Aston Villa would have to spend $47 million (£35 million), and it was unprepared to do so.But, amid the race for the Champions League places, former Liverpool and Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow suggested that the Reds wouldn't want to change the terms and allow Elliott to play as often as Emery chose without him moving permanently.In that scenario, the on-loan man could help stop Liverpool from finishing inside the top five spots, only then to return to Anfield."Liverpool weren’t playing ball," Purslow said on talkSPORT. That’s why Liverpool aren’t playing ball."There is one ‘but’.