Liverpool are facing a clear first decision in the upcoming January transfer window, with strong calls for the club to cut short Harvey Elliott's unsuccessful loan spell at Aston Villa.
A Loan Move Turned Sour
The midfielder's season-long switch to Villa Park, completed on transfer deadline day, has proven to be a disaster. The 22-year-old has managed just five appearances across all competitions for Unai Emery's side and has become a conspicuous absentee from recent matchday squads.
Elliott's last action came as a brief substitute in the Europa League against Feyenoord on October 2. Villa manager Emery has effectively confirmed the player has no long-term future at the club, stating he is "not definitely adding to us with a permanent contract."
The Financial Stumbling Block
A key factor in Elliott's exile appears to be a clause in the loan agreement. Aston Villa would be obligated to pay a £35 million fee to sign him permanently if he reaches 10 Premier League appearances. With Villa flying high in third place without him, Emery has shown little desire to trigger that condition.
"Hopefully we can get a solution for him to try to play consistently and try to continue in his career with us or not," Emery said last week, opening the door for an early departure.
The Case for a Liverpool Return
Former Liverpool player Don Hutchison is among those advocating for a January recall. He argues that with FIFA rules preventing Elliott from playing for a third club this season, bringing him back to Anfield is the logical move to provide manager Arne Slot with more options.
"If you're Liverpool, you're probably best off bringing him back and keeping him in the squad," Hutchison told oddsboom. He pointed to Liverpool's recent bench, depleted by injuries to Cody Gakpo and Wataru Endo and a suspension for Conor Bradley, as evidence of the need for reinforcement.
Elliott originally sought the loan move after making only two starts under Slot during Liverpool's Premier League title-winning campaign last season, aiming for regular football. That plan has backfired spectacularly, leaving his immediate career at a crossroads.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether a return to Merseyside can reignite the promising career of the England under-21 international.
