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Harvey Elliott has only played five times for Aston Villa since joining the Midlands club last year, and Unai Emery has made it clear that he is not convinced by the 22-year-old
Unai Emery has confirmed that he is not convinced that Harvey Elliott is the right fit for Aston Villa.
The 22-year-old 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.
On the three-month anniversary of Elliott's last outing for Villa, Emery all but confirmed that the player does not have a future at Villa Park while he is the manager.
READ MORE: John Arne Riise explains difference between Arne Slot and fired Enzo MarescaREAD MORE: Arne Slot will be 'relieved' by Alexander Isak injury after strategy 'backfired'“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 during a press conference. “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 single season.
Elliott has already made appearances for both Liverpool and Villa, so his only hopes of playing again in Europe this term are to break through at Villa or to return to Liverpool and play for Slot's team.
In a press conference last week, Slot gave short shrift to a suggestion that Liverpool could look to bring Elliott back during the January transfer window.
"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."
Elliott made 28 appearances for Liverpool last term, but the vast majority of those came as a substitute, and his only two Premier League starts came after the Reds had wrapped up the title.
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