Liverpool and Aston Villa have been advised to engage in a serious, 'grown-up' conversation to resolve a costly impasse surrounding the future of midfielder Harvey Elliott.
The £35m Clause Creating a Stand-Off
The situation stems from Elliott's season-long loan move to Villa Park on transfer deadline day. The deal included a significant £35 million obligation to buy, which is triggered if the player makes ten or more appearances for Unai Emery's side.
However, the 22-year-old has been conspicuously absent from matchday squads, left out for the last 15 consecutive Premier League games despite being fully fit. To date, Elliott has made just seven appearances across all competitions, scoring once, and is now three games short of activating the permanent transfer.
This has created a bizarre deadlock. Villa, who beat RB Leipzig to his signature and saw him reject West Ham and Fulham, appear reluctant to commit to the fee. Consequently, Elliott trains with the first team but is not considered for selection, stalling his career.
A Career in Limbo Amid World Cup Hopes
The stalemate benefits nobody. Aston Villa are not utilising a squad member, Liverpool are set to miss out on a substantial transfer fee, and Harvey Elliott is the biggest loser.
After dazzling for England's Under-21s last summer—finishing as the tournament's second-top scorer with five goals—this season was seen as his chance to push for a senior World Cup squad place under Thomas Tuchel. Instead, his development has halted completely.
Finance expert Stefan Borson, speaking to Football Insider, highlighted the need for a pragmatic solution: "I think they can have a grown-up conversation around it... What if we said that the obligation, we’re going to convert it to just an option? Would you play the player more?"
The Path to a Resolution
Borson suggested the clubs should renegotiate the terms. Options could include increasing the appearance threshold, converting the obligation into an option, or even arranging a loan to another club.
The core issue is clear: Villa will not play him if it triggers the £35m fee. With neither club nor player gaining from the current inertia, the pressure is mounting for Liverpool and Aston Villa to find a compromise that allows Elliott to resume his football career, whether at Villa Park, Anfield, or elsewhere.
