Unai Emery aims bitter accusation at Liverpool over Harvey Elliott transfer saga

Harvey Elliott has made just seven appearances for Aston Villa this season due to a £35m obligation to buy clause, with manager Unai Emery now publicly appealing to Liverpool to remove the terms so the midfielder can play

Unai Emery has called out Liverpool over Harvey Elliott's situation(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images)

Aston Villa's manager, Unai Emery, has pointed the finger at Liverpool for "damaging" Harvey Elliott's career, attributing his wasted season to the conditions of his loan deal. Elliott has seen little action on loan at Villa this season, and Emery feels that Liverpool's stipulations have effectively tied his hands.

The 22 year old midfielder made the move to Villa on a season-long loan in September, hoping to secure regular playtime after struggling to break into the first team during Liverpool's Premier League-winning 2024/25 campaign. However, his stint at Villa has turned into a nightmare, with only seven appearances to his name so far.

This is due to a clause stating that Villa would be obliged to shell out £35million to make Elliott's move permanent if he clocks up 10 appearances this season. As a result, Emery has kept him benched, with a rare outing against Red Bull Salzburg in a non-crucial Europa League match on January 29 marking his first game in three months.

Emery empathizes with Elliott, who has maintained his professionalism throughout, and has now publicly called on Liverpool to remove the obligation-to-buy clause from the loan agreement, after months of behind-the-scenes discussions failed to yield the desired outcome.

"I spoke with him. We have been fair because there are two ways: one way is a sport, the second is business," Emery said on Friday ahead of Villa's Premier League game against Bournemouth. "We'll be fair in case, because we are trying it, and I told him, we are opening the door to play with us, because he can help us.

"But it's not only in my way and on my side. The other side is Liverpool. If they take off the clauses to play matches and for us to buy him, (I said to him) 'you are going to play here with us, it's a sport decision.' But now it's a sport decision and a business decision. My sport decision is still there - 'you are deserving to play, we need your qualities in the field, you are going to play.'".

Harvey Elliott has endured a frustrating time at Aston Villa(Image: James Gill/Getty Images)

"But in case the clauses are still there, now it is Liverpool - they have the key. And I told him, it will be fair for him in case Liverpool take off this clause. We are speaking about it (taking off the clause) but not now. We started speaking about it three months ago. Of course, the transfer window finished on Monday."

Liverpool declined to recall Elliott during the January transfer window and it appears improbable that they will alter their stance on the clause within the agreement. The England under-21 international's contract at Anfield runs until June 2027, but a summer departure looks likely once his difficult spell at Villa comes to an end.

"It will be fair for him, because he's a calm guy, good guy, and he's a fantastic professional. And then his qualities are there," Emery added. "Of course he must play, and he's really being patient. And I know we are damaging him, because we got a deal with Liverpool in the summer and the deal is there, and we are respecting the decision and taking the sporting decision responsibly from my side.

"It can change for him, in case Liverpool take off this clause. If they don't want to, okay, but the player is getting damaged."