Arne Slot has again reiterated that he does not consider Harvey Elliott a Liverpool player, despite loan club Aston Villa making it clear they will not sign him either.
Villa head coach Unai Emery has gone on record discussing his desire to find a solution for Elliott, who he does not intend to use due to a looming buy clause.
With the midfielder not set to reach the 10-appearance threshold that would trigger a permanent £35 million transfer to Villa Park, he will by default return to Liverpool next summer.
There is the possibility of Villa seeking to terminated the deal this month, though that would incur a financial penalty, and Slot’s assessment of the situation will be far from encouraging for the player himself.
“I think that answer’s going to be the same as [the previous question about] Marc Guehi,” he said when asked if it is possible Elliott ends January as a Liverpool player.
“He’s an Aston Villa player. So if you want to ask things about an Aston Villa player, you should ask Unai Emery.”
With the head coach reminded that Elliott is technically still a Liverpool player and he is simply on loan at this stage, the journalist in question was informed that the club have no recall option.
Slot smiled as he repeated the phrase, effectively underlining that the matter is out of his hands.
Harvey Elliott transfer news: What are the options?
The point stands that until Elliott’s move to Villa becomes permanent he is still contracted by Liverpool, and he is a player who has represented the first team on 149 occasions, playing a part in winning six trophies.
It is a landscape shifted further by the acknowledgment from the Midlands club that they do not intend to trigger their £35 million buy clause.
This has clearly led Elliott to assess his options with the prospect of a half-season loan to MLS and Charlotte FC even broached – due to FIFA rules prohibiting him joining another club in Europe having already played for both Liverpool and Villa in 2025/26.
Decision Time: The Elliott Shortlist
| Option | The Hurdle |
|---|---|
| MLS Loan (Charlotte FC) | While it bypasses the ‘three-club rule’, Elliott is reportedly hesitant to move to the US at 22. |
| Return to Liverpool | No recall clause. Requires Villa to pay a severance fee and Liverpool to find a squad place for a player Slot allowed to leave. |
| Stay at Aston Villa | Unai Emery has confirmed Villa will not play him again to avoid triggering the £35m buy clause at 10 appearances (currently on 5). |
| European Loan | Impossible. FIFA Article 5.3 prevents a player from playing for a third European club in the same season. |
While it has been widely reported that the 22-year-old does not wish to explore a move to the United States his current impasse needs a resolution.
Liverpool will almost certainly remain hardline in their stance – and that includes Slot’s public comments – as the onus is on Villa to not only make contact over an early termination, but also to pay for the privilege.
If he were to stay where he is for the remainder of the season, Elliott runs the risk of playing no football at all since his last appearance against Feyenoord on October 2.