Aston Villa's Harvey Elliott is facing an uncertain future, with his loan deal from Liverpool set to expire in the coming months. The 22-year-old midfielder has struggled for game time under Unai Emery, and the Villans' manager has repeatedly stated that he does not want to sign Elliott permanently.
Despite his impressive form on the international stage, winning a second European Championship with England Under-21s, Elliott's profile at Villa Park is closer to that of more established players such as John McGinn and Youri Tielemans. His sound fitness level and work rate have been praised by team-mates, but he has remained largely sidelined by Emery.
The situation has changed somewhat in recent weeks, with injuries to key midfielders Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn leaving Villa light in the area of the pitch Elliott plays in. However, even if Elliott is given a chance to prove himself, his long-term future remains uncertain.
Liverpool's stance is that it is Villa's issue to solve, having budgeted for the transfer fee and having Elliott's wages covered. The prospect of him returning to Anfield remains remote, with manager Arne Slot saying only that he is an Aston Villa player at present.
As for Elliott, his attitude has impressed and he is well-liked by team-mates, but where he starts next season could be far from certain. With the transfer window now closed, it seems unlikely that Villa will find a solution to their uncertainty over Elliott's future.
Despite his impressive form on the international stage, winning a second European Championship with England Under-21s, Elliott's profile at Villa Park is closer to that of more established players such as John McGinn and Youri Tielemans. His sound fitness level and work rate have been praised by team-mates, but he has remained largely sidelined by Emery.
The situation has changed somewhat in recent weeks, with injuries to key midfielders Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn leaving Villa light in the area of the pitch Elliott plays in. However, even if Elliott is given a chance to prove himself, his long-term future remains uncertain.
Liverpool's stance is that it is Villa's issue to solve, having budgeted for the transfer fee and having Elliott's wages covered. The prospect of him returning to Anfield remains remote, with manager Arne Slot saying only that he is an Aston Villa player at present.
As for Elliott, his attitude has impressed and he is well-liked by team-mates, but where he starts next season could be far from certain. With the transfer window now closed, it seems unlikely that Villa will find a solution to their uncertainty over Elliott's future.
he was on fire for england u21s and showed some sick skills but apparently not good enough 4 villa 
i mean come on, john mcginn & tielemans r gettin paid big bucks 2 do the same job but elliotty gets left in the shadows 
what's the diff?
. He had some great games for England Under-21s and everyone thought he was gonna be a superstar at Villa... but Emery just doesn't seem to trust him enough, ya know? 
And now, with McGinn and Kamara out injured, it's like he's got an opening door, but will they actually give him a shot? 
I'm not sure how much more of this uncertainty Elliott can handle...
! He's got so much talent and just needs a bit more time and trust at Villa. I think he'd be a great fit for them long-term, but Emery's tactics are all about the big-name signings. Still, Elliott's had some amazing games for England Under-21s, that's gotta count for something! 
And from what I've seen, he's got an awesome attitude and is loved by his teammates - that's half the battle right? Let's see if Villa can give him a chance to shine next season 
What's going on at Villa? They've got him with amazing form for England U21s and he's just sitting on the bench?! 
I get it, Emery doesn't want to sign him permanently but come on! He deserves a chance to prove himself. It's like they're giving away talent... 
And now Kamara and McGinn are out with injuries and they still can't give Elliott a go? It's so frustrating for a fan like me 
... Interesting how his fitness level and work rate have been praised by team-mates, yet still gets sidelined 
. Wonder if Villa will find a way to sort out their midfield issues, or if Elliott's future is just one big unknown... 
. I think Villa should've just signed him permanently already, it'd be better than playing musical chairs with his future all the time 
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. On a serious note, it's kinda weird that Liverpool just hands him back to Villa after loaning him out - are they really not invested in his future at all? At least he has an okay work rate and stuff... can't say I'm surprised he's stuck on the fringes