Unai Emery has confirmed Aston Villa’s official stance regarding a potential deal for the ‘world-class’ Liverpool star.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has confirmed the club won’t be taking up their option to sign Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott permanently. The 22-year-old, who joined Villa on deadline day, has barely featured and is now set to head back to Merseyside.

 

Ahead of Villa’s Europa League match against FC Basel, Emery made it clear that Elliott is unlikely to stay long-term. The loan reportedly included a £35m obligation to buy if the midfielder made 10 appearances — but with only five so far and none since October, that clause won’t be triggered.

 

Emery said they are discussing the player’s future, hoping to find a solution that helps him play regularly, whether at Villa or elsewhere, but stressed he is only a temporary addition.

 

Elliott’s spell at Villa has been hampered by tactical mismatch and strong competition, leaving him unable to break into the team. He hasn’t played in over two months and has often been excluded from the matchday squad.

 

He is now expected to return to Liverpool in January, having dropped down the pecking order under Arne Slot. If Slot stays, Elliott will likely be loaned out again or sold to a lower-table Premier League side or a club abroad.

 

However, with Slot under increasing pressure, a managerial change at Anfield could give Elliott — praised as “world-class” by Glen Johnson — another chance to revive his Liverpo

ol career.