“Take off the clauses” in Harvey Elliott’s loan deal – Unai Emery tells Liverpool
Elliott has featured in Villa’s last two matches after a long spell out of the side
Unai Emery has challenged Liverpool to remove the clauses in Harvey Elliott’s loan deal following the midfielder’s return to action at Aston Villa.
Elliott has featured in Villa’s last two matches after a long spell out of the side, playing 90 minutes in the 3-2 Europa League win over RB Salzburg before appearing as a substitute in the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Brentford.
Prior to that, his only other appearance since October came in a brief cameo against Feyenoord.
The 22-year-old joined Villa on loan from Liverpool with a £35m permanent option that would be triggered after 10 appearances, a condition initially expected to be a formality.
However, Emery had largely overlooked Elliott despite Villa dealing with injuries to Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Ollie Watkins.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth, Emery addressed Elliott’s future, placing responsibility on Liverpool and appearing to play down the prospect of a permanent transfer.
“I spoke with him,” said Unai Emery. “We have been fair because there are two ways. One way is a sport, the second is business. We’ll be fair in case, because we are trying it.
“And I told him, I spoke a few times with Harvey. Harvey, now I am opening the door to play with us, because he can help us. But it’s not only on my side. The other side is Liverpool, if they take off the clauses to play matches and for us to buy him.
“(I said to him) ‘you are going to play here with us, it’s a sport decision,’. But now it’s a sport decision and a business decision. My sport decision is still there – ‘you are deserving to play, we need your qualities in the field, you are going to play.’ But in case, the clauses are still there and now it is Liverpool – they have the key. And I told him. It will be fair for him in case Liverpool take off this clause.”
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