Aston Villa Could Agree New Signing After Terminating Harvey Elliott Deal

Aston Villa are poised to terminate Harvey Elliott's season-long loan from Liverpool in January, potentially freeing up funds for a new signing, according to transfer insider Stefan Borson.

The 22-year-old midfielder, on loan from Liverpool since September 1, has made just five appearances for Unai Emery's high-flying Villans, who are challenging for the Premier League title. The deal includes a £35 million obligation to buy if Elliott reaches 10 appearances, but Villa have deliberately limited his minutes to avoid triggering it. Emery has publicly stated Elliott is "not definitely" staying permanently, preferring to allocate the fee elsewhere.[2][6]

Frustration mounts across all parties. Elliott, a homegrown Liverpool talent and recent England U21 Player of the Tournament, craves regular play amid a crucial World Cup year. Liverpool manager Arne Slot rates him but sees no path into the first XI, planning a summer sale to clubs like Crystal Palace or Fulham. Without a recall clause, termination requires mutual agreement and a fee from Villa to Liverpool.[1][2][3]

FIFA and UEFA rules complicate matters: Elliott's brief August cameo for Liverpool (under 10 minutes) means he can't join a third club this season, limiting options to staying at Villa or returning to Anfield. Villa "hope" to end the loan early and are willing to pay compensation, avoiding wage costs for the remainder.[1][4][5]

Stefan Borson suggests this resolution could enable Villa to pursue a new attacker or midfielder in January, bolstering their title push. Discussions between clubs are ongoing, with clarity expected soon. For Elliott, it's a limbo ending that restarts his career elsewhere.[3][6]

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