Stuart Pearce has revealed that Harvey Elliott continues to earn strong internal backing at Aston Villa, despite the midfielder’s limited involvement this season and an uncertain future under Unai Emery.
The Liverpool loanee joined Villa on a season-long deal last summer, but his campaign has stalled amid contractual complications that have left the 21-year-old in what Pearce described as “limbo”.
Elliott praised behind the scenes at Villa
Elliott arrived in the Midlands with expectations of regular minutes, but his involvement slowed sharply after five early appearances. Villa’s loan agreement includes an obligation to buy, reportedly worth £35m, if the midfielder reaches 10 appearances in all competitions.
In January, Emery openly admitted that Elliott’s usage had been managed with that clause in mind, acknowledging he had avoided fielding the player to prevent triggering the permanent transfer.
Despite that, Pearce says Elliott’s attitude has remained exemplary, with Villa staff impressed by his professionalism on the training ground.
“I really feel for Harvey Elliott because you speak to people at Villa and they’ve only got positive things to say about him in terms of his attitude and application in training every day,” — Stuart Pearce, speaking to talkSPORT
Contract clause leaves Elliott in limbo
Elliott has recently returned to the matchday squad, making substitute appearances against RB Salzburg and Brentford. Those outings have taken him to seven appearances overall, still short of the threshold that would activate Villa’s obligation to buy.
Pearce believes the situation has left the player stuck between two clubs, despite doing little wrong on or off the pitch.
“It’s just really unfortunate that, for whatever reason, Emery doesn’t seem to fancy him and doesn’t want Villa to have to pay the £35m if he plays 10 or more games. So he’s stuck in limbo,” — Stuart Pearce
Reports suggest Villa’s stance on Elliott’s future has not shifted significantly, even with several months of the season remaining.
Talks expected as loan rethink considered
There may, however, be movement behind the scenes. Reports earlier this week indicated that Villa and Liverpool are preparing to reopen discussions over the structure of the deal.
As it stands, the arrangement benefits neither side. Villa are restricted from fully utilising a player they are already paying for, while Liverpool risk seeing Elliott’s market value decline if he continues to sit on the sidelines.
Removing the compulsory purchase clause is viewed as the most practical solution. That would allow Emery to use Elliott more freely without committing the club to a permanent deal he may not want.
Key Insights
- Villa staff are impressed with Elliott’s training attitude
- Emery has limited Elliott’s minutes due to a purchase clause
- Elliott has made seven appearances, three short of triggering a permanent move
- Pearce says the player is caught “in limbo”
- Talks are expected between Villa and Liverpool to revise the deal
What’s Next
Discussions between Villa and Liverpool could take place in the coming weeks, with both clubs motivated to find a workable solution. If the loan terms are adjusted, Elliott may yet play a more prominent role during the run-in. If not, his future is likely to be reassessed once the season concludes.
Should Villa amend the deal and give Elliott a genuine chance, or is his future now better resolved away from the Midlands?
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