1 hour ago
31
Harvey Elliott is being linked with a possible move to MLS outfit Charlotte FC, with the Liverpool loanee's prospects at Aston Villa looking increasingly bleak
Harvey Elliott has emerged as a possible signing for MLS side Charlotte as his Aston Villa nightmare continues.
Elliott joined Villa on a season-long loan during the summer transfer window, with the deal including a conditional obligation for Villa to sign the player permanently in 2026.
That condition is that Elliott must appear 10 times for Villa, but he has only made five appearances for the Midlands club – the last of which came on Oct. 2.
Villa boss Unai Emery said in a press conference on Friday that he is not convinced that Elliott is the right fit for Villa.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah wanted by former club as sensational transfer speculation emergesREAD MORE: Unai Emery all but ends Harvey Elliott's Aston Villa dream with damning update“I am respecting him all we can because he’s a very good professional, very respectful – but the situation we have is something," Emery said. “I must take a decision but not damage the person. Because he’s a very good person and player and deserves the best.
"The problem we have with Harvey is this year he is on loan and in case he is playing matches, we must buy him. We decided two months ago we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we need.
“This is the issue. But he is training every day, very good with us to help us in training and of course it is not good for him or good for us, but it is football and sometimes we must take decisions that are not good for us."
Elliott finds himself in a tough spot, as FIFA rules stipulate that a player cannot appear for more than two clubs in a season, unless the third club plays in a league which starts and finishes at a different time of the year to the league or leagues that the first two clubs compete in.
One possible solution is for Elliott to move to MLS in the United States, which runs from February to October each year — unlike most European leagues, which tend to run from August until May.
Several former Premier League players currently play for Charlotte, including Wilfried Zaha, Ashley Westwood, Tim Ream and Harry Toffolo.
Nathan Byrne and Luca de la Torre, who didn't appear in the Premier League but were on the books at Tottenham and Fulham, respectively, also play for Charlotte.
In contrast to the reports linking Elliott with Charlotte, The Times claims that a move to the United States is not something that Elliott is currently considering.
Liverpool does not have a recall option in Elliott's Villa loan deal, and Slot gave short shrift to a suggestion that Liverpool could look to bring Elliott back during the January transfer window in a press conference last week.
"Harvey Elliot is an Aston Villa player," Slot said. "He's supposed to be going there for the season. Any questions about him, the best place to ask is in Villa."
English (US) ·