Aston Villa 'not convinced' to sign Harvey Elliott permanently - Unai Emery

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has revealed that the club is not fully convinced about signing Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott on a permanent basis, despite his impressive loan spell at Villa Park this season.

Elliott, 23, joined Villa on a season-long loan from Liverpool in the summer transfer window, quickly establishing himself as a key player in Emery's midfield. The England international has made 18 Premier League appearances, scoring three goals and providing five assists, contributing significantly to Villa's push for a top-four finish.

Speaking ahead of Villa's clash with Manchester United, Emery praised Elliott's impact but expressed reservations about a permanent move. "Harvey has been fantastic for us. His creativity, work rate, and maturity have exceeded expectations," Emery said. "But we must be cautious. Permanent transfers require long-term conviction, financial alignment, and strategic fit. Right now, we're not 100% convinced it's the right path forward."

The Spaniard highlighted concerns over Elliott's injury history and Villa's packed midfield options, including Ross Barkley and Youri Tielemans. Liverpool, who value Elliott highly as part of their future plans, have inserted a £60m buy option in the loan deal, but sources indicate Villa are hesitant to meet it amid Financial Fair Play constraints.

Elliott himself has remained non-committal, focusing on performances. "I'm loving it here at Villa. The fans, the team—it's special. My future? That's for the clubs to decide," he told reporters.

Analysts suggest Villa may opt for a new loan or allow Elliott to return to Anfield, potentially opening the door for other targets like Morgan Gibbs-White. Emery emphasized the club's pragmatic approach: "We build sustainably. Conviction comes first."

This development underscores Villa's selective transfer strategy under Emery, balancing ambition with fiscal responsibility as they eye Champions League qualification.

(Word count: 298)