Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Harvey Elliott will not be traveling with the squad for their upcoming Europa League match against FC Basel. The Liverpool loanee has struggled for regular playing time this season, making just five appearances for Villa.
Emery revealed he has held multiple conversations with Elliott regarding his limited involvement on the pitch. A key factor in Elliott’s future at Villa is a clause in his loan deal: if he makes 10 appearances, Villa can sign him permanently for £35 million.
However, Elliott has been left out of Villa’s last seven Premier League matchday squads and was absent from the squad entirely for the Basel fixture, despite featuring in the five earlier European games this term.
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“We are in talks with him about his situation. He is not with us today,” Emery explained in the pre-match press conference. “I respect him both as a player and as a person. He is training well, but we must find a circumstance that works for all parties.”
The Villa boss added, “Hopefully we will find the best solution for him and the club. We want him to play consistently, either continuing his career with us or considering other options.”
Emery further emphasized, “I have spoken with him two or three times about his current position. He is on loan, and until he commits permanently, there is a limit to how he can contribute.”
As Aston Villa navigates this situation, the club remains focused on securing the best outcome for both the player and the team.