Liverpool in surprise recall rumours as Harvey Elliott’s Villa move goes wrong

Harvey Elliott could return to Liverpool in January as a loan move to Aston Villa continues to go wrong.

Elliott will not be in Unai Emery’s squad for the weekend trip to Anfield as he cannot face his parent club while the 22-year-old midfielder was left out of the Villa squad entirely as they shocked Manchester City last week.

He was signed on loan by the Birmingham side on Deadline Day with an obligation to buy, but the Daily Mail has reported that will only kick in once he has played a certain number of games.

This leaves it open for Elliott to make a surprise return to Anfield rather than make his expected €42.5 million move to Aston Villa a permanent one.

The former Blackburn Rovers man left Liverpool in the summer to seek out first-team football, but the minutes he had hoped for have not come at Villa. Despite the club’s European commitments, he has made only five appearances and has yet to play even 200 minutes across all competitions after two months at Villa Park.

Elliott is said to be “understanding” of why he is not playing currently but is still thought to be frustrated at the situation.

What now for Elliott?

The only option for Elliott until January, at least, is to fight for his place at Aston Villa, where he seems likely to see out the whole season.

Should Emery’s side elect not to sign him permanently, he could theoretically go back to Liverpool next summer. It is reported that there are clubs interested in signing him, including those from the Bundesliga.

Villa could also move to sign him on a permanent basis, in which case the Reds would retain a buy-back clause, similar to the one they have in place when they sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.