Liverpool and Aston Villa could make changes to Harvey Elliott deal amid horror loan spell

Aston Villa and Liverpool could scrap the obligation clause in Harvey Elliott’s loan deal, talkSPORT understands.

Big things were expected of the 22-year-old after he linked up with the Midlands outfit on a season-long loan deal from the Reds last summer.

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The loan includes an obligation for the Villans to turn his temporary stay into a £35million permanent switch if he makes ten Premier League appearances.

As it stands, Elliott has featured in just four top-flight matches under Unai Emery.

Things looked to be promising for the two-time European Under-21 champion after being involved in the first three games he was available for.

But he was then cast side by Villa, first being benched for two consecutive matches, and then omitted from the matchday squad entirely.

His lack of game time led to speculation that Liverpool could cut short his loan spell midway through the campaign.

MLS side Charlotte FC were prepared to offer the attacking midfielder an escape from his Villa nightmare on another loan deal.

Having already featured for Liverpool this term, FIFA rules state that Elliott was unable to play for another team in Europe – opening the door to a potential switch Stateside.

Though Elliott was unwilling to test himself in America, and with the Reds not wanting to welcome him back into their set-up, he has ended up staying at Villa Park.

Elliott returned from the wilderness to play the full match of Villa’s 3-2 win over Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League last week, which was followed by a cameo off the bench in a 1-0 defeat against Brentford – his first league outing since September.

And talkSPORT correspondent Ben Jacobs has hinted that more appearances could be in the offing, with talks between Villa and Liverpool over his obligation clause to potentially be taken out.

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This would allow Elliott to showcase his talent, which Liverpool hope would keep his market value from dropping ahead of a possible summer sale.

Commenting on Elliott’s situation during his appearance on the Hawksbee and Jacobs show on Tuesday, Jacobs said: “He can’t go on loan elsewhere.

“There was interest from Charlotte FC though to do a loan deal and that’s the one exception, that if it’s a season that effectively is starting and not on the same calendar as much of Europe, then it’s seen as different.

“Because the MLS season is viewed as next season whereas the European leagues are all in the same season.

“So Harvey Elliott’s turned out for Liverpool and Aston Villa so he can’t move to another European club, but Charlotte FC was one example where he could have gone and yet Elliott didn’t want to go.

“Now I think what you might see outside of the window is Liverpool and Aston Villa relaxing the terms and that is possible even though the window’s shut.

“And in this particular scenario, instead of it being about if Villa play him a few more games, they’ve got to buy him.

“If Liverpool know that they’re not going to purchase him, maybe to get the player game time, put him in the shop window, make him more marketable during the summer.

“What they will do is allow for the obligation to buy to be changed and an amendment to come in perhaps just making it a straight option to buy or maybe adding more appearances between now and the end of the season before Villa are obligated to buy.

“So don’t be surprised if we see some club-to-club talks to allow Harvey Elliott the opportunity to feature more for Aston Villa without Villa being obligated to buy him.

“And the reason why, Emery doesn’t want the player, [it’s] nothing personal.

“He’s training hard, but it was a Monchi [ex-President of Football Operations] signing.

“Monchi left and then Emi Brendia comes back and does amazing, so naturally, Harvey Elliott falls further down the pecking order.”

Having played in back-to-back matches in all competitions, Elliott will now be looking to make his eighth Villa appearance this term.

Third-placed Villa travel to Bournemouth on Saturday on the back of one win in their last four league matches.

Their blip in form has seen the club fall to seven points behind league leaders Arsenal, with Manchester United in fourth now trailing by five points.