Manager snubs him: Was this summer’s biggest transfer flop?

"He is definitely not getting a contract." A slap in the face for the player, as this statement leaves no room for interpretation. It was coach Unai Emery who made this clear during the press conference ahead of the Europa League match against Basel in December.

His target: Harvey Elliott. The loanee arrived in the summer from Liverpool FC. Back then, the situation was clear—a loan deal with an obligation to buy was agreed upon. According to 'The Athletic', just ten official matches would have been enough for the clause to take effect. So far, he has only played a total of 174 minutes across seven games. 

But now, Aston Villa has no interest in buying Elliott at all. After his clear words in December, Emery doubled down in January. "We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him and spend the necessary money," he was quoted as saying by 'BBC' Sport. The transfer fee is said to be around 40 million euros. 

Since mid-October, the U21 international has not been nominated for the squad even once. Nevertheless, he is said to behave impeccably, train every day, and be helpful in training sessions, explained the Spanish coach. "This is neither good for him nor for us, but that's football, and sometimes we have to make decisions that are not good for everyone," Emery added. 

This at the latest confirms the suspicions that have been circulating in the English media for some time. The Villa coach apparently never wanted Elliott. Reportedly, he would have preferred to sign West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta for the midfield in the summer. Sporting director Monchi, however, favored Elliott and pushed through the loan deal. But since September, the boss is gone and the player is left in a rather poor situation. 

One thing is already clear: the deal has not paid off for either side and Elliott is the big loser. No minutes on the pitch also means that his World Cup dream is slipping further and further away. Although he became European champion with the U21s last year and was named best player of the tournament, without playing time, Thomas Tuchel will certainly not nominate him for the senior national team. 

📸 Christian Bruna - 2025 Getty Images

So will the Reds bring him back in the winter transfer window and loan him out again? Even this way out is complicated. FIFA rules state that a player can only play for two European clubs in one season. Since Elliott already played for Liverpool before his move, another loan within Europe is out of the question.

This significantly narrows down his options. One alternative would be the USA, as the former mega-talent could play there because MLS has a different season calendar. Charlotte FC is said to be interested. But according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Elliott apparently has no desire to go to America. 

Does he hope to play for the Reds again? At the press conference before the match against Arsenal, the LFC coach did not want to comment, as Elliott is still an Aston Villa player. Given Liverpool's weak season so far and the many injuries to stars like Alexander Isak or Cody Gakpo, it is not out of the question that Elliott could get another chance from Slot. 

Otherwise, it could be a lost year for Harvey Elliott. Without playing time, without planning security, and without a clear perspective, the 22-year-old stands at a crossroads. The winter transfer window will show whether Liverpool will take him back—or whether the former mega-talent will simply be dropped and realize how tough the business can be. Or in other words: "That's football."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Stu Forster - 2025 Getty Images