New reports from Football Insider say Aston Villa want to talk Liverpool down to a £20m fee for Harvey Elliott. They’re trying to fix a contract headache that has left everyone frustrated. Right now, Unai Emery’s team has the 22-year-old on a season-long loan.
The deal has a catch: a £35m mandatory purchase clause. The contract triggers that massive bill automatically once the England U21 star hits 10 games for Villa. It looks like Aston Villa won’t pay that premium.
They’ve stuck the player on the bench at just seven games. Now, the club hopes to settle on a lower price. That would let them actually play the midfielder for the rest of the year without getting hit with a huge invoice.
Aston Villa Eye £20m Bargain to End Harvey Elliott Mess with Liverpool
The standoff needs a fix fast. Right now, this paperwork deadlock helps no one. The 2025 U21 Euro star is wasting away on the bench. Villa’s bosses are blocking him from the pitch just to save £15m. He’ll be 23 in April. At this point in his career, he needs game time more than potential. Over at Liverpool, Arne Slot clearly doesn’t see a spot for him at Anfield anymore.
A fair middle ground is staring both clubs in the face. Liverpool should just take the £20m. The club get nothing by bringing back a miserable player who hasn’t played in a year. Plus, his price tag drops every single time he’s left out of the squad.
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Taking a guaranteed £20m is just smart business for a backup player who isn’t in Slot’s future plans. On the flip side, Villa get a top-tier talent for a steal to help their push for Europe. Emery even says the situation is damaging the kid. A cut-price permanent move is the only way out. Both clubs just need to balance the books and move on.
