Key Highlights
- Charlotte FC willing to offer Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott an escape route from his loan at Aston Villa.
- Unai Emery reveals he has frozen out Elliott due to no interest in signing him permanently.
- Elliott cannot appear for another team this season in European leagues but could play in MLS.
- Charlotte FC secured discovery rights and hope Elliott will be attracted by the chance to play every week in the USA.
The Stranded Star: Harvey Elliott’s Future Hangs in the Balance
Harvey Elliott, 22, is currently on loan at Aston Villa but finds himself frozen out of first-team action. The Liverpool star faces a dilemma as he looks for an escape route to play again this season.
Aston Villa’s Loan Dilemma
Elliott joined Aston Villa last summer under an agreement where the Premier League club could buy him if he made ten appearances, but so far, he has played just twice. Unai Emery, the Villa boss, revealed the reason behind Elliott’s enforced rest: “The problem we have is this year he is on loan and if he plays matches we must buy him. We decided two months ago we are not convinced to sign him spending the money we need to.”
Charlotte FC’s Offer
Moving across the Atlantic, MLS side Charlotte FC have shown interest in Elliott as a potential lifeline. The club has secured discovery rights and is willing to offer Elliott an opportunity to play every week in North America. Dean Smith, the former Aston Villa manager and now coach of Charlotte, hopes that Elliott will be attracted by playing for his old team again.
Charlotte FC believes their offer could be a solution for Elliott’s current situation. General Manager Zoran Krneta is optimistic about the prospects: “We understand Elliott would prefer to play in the Premier League but we hope with the World Cup coming to USA this summer, he would be attracted to the chance to play there every week and recognise that he would still be in the spotlight as his arrival would generate plenty of excitement.”
Back Home or Across the Pond?
The decision now lies with Elliott himself. While Charlotte FC sees a short-term fix, it may not represent the best long-term solution for the player who made five appearances for Aston Villa and twice for Liverpool. Elliott’s preference remains to return to English football, but if his chances of playing in the Premier League are slim, this MLS opportunity could provide him with more regular game time.
Ultimately, talks between Aston Villa and Liverpool will determine whether a solution can be found that allows Elliott to continue his career. If not, Charlotte FC’s offer may yet prove to be his best short-term fix before he takes stock in the summer.
The future of Harvey Elliott hangs in the balance as he faces this pivotal decision, with both English and American leagues vying for his talents.
