Liverpool will not allow Aston Villa to renegotiate Harvey Elliott’s loan deal due to Champions League race.
That’s according to former Villa CEO Christian Purslow as the midfielder’s problems continue.
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Elliott has played just four Premier League games for Unai Emery’s side this season.
It follows his season-long loan move from Liverpool on Deadline Day in the summer.
As part of the deal, Villa agreed to buy Elliott for £35 million if he played ten Premier League games.
However, Emery has made it clear that the clause will not come into force.
As a result, the 22-year-old has only played 13 minutes in the league since the end of September.
Elliott has also struggled for playing time in European and cup competitions, with the Europa League likely the only opportunity he will have for the remainder of the season.
Purslow has now shared his views on the saga during an appearance on Sunday’s edition of The Pitch Prospect.
The 62-year-old met with Shaun Custis and Henry Winter to discuss why the two clubs were able to change the terms of the loan.
He explained: “It seemed to me that there was an obvious opportunity to pull the plug on the deal again when this situation emerged, given Villa have had a major injury crisis of late.”
“Say, ‘How about we let the player play a few more games? We’ll pay you a fee for that, just as if we were renting the player.’
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“But the non-negotiable for Villa would have been: ‘We can’t buy the player in the summer’.”
“Liverpool didn’t play and they didn’t play because of what hangs over today’s games and the last few weeks, which is the top five result.”
“There is so much at stake in Champions League qualification, probably £90m to £100m in revenue next year.
“Then the £5m to £10m you could lose if Harvey Elliott doesn’t kick a ball in the summer and gets back on his feet is, frankly, small things compared to whether Liverpool are fifth or Villa are fifth. That’s why Liverpool aren’t playing.”
“There is one thing, but I noticed that they have informed that the ten games are Premier League games, so I think there is a good chance we will see Harvey Elliott playing in the Europa League.”
“A because Villa need him and b because it doesn’t trigger the mandatory takeover. I could be wrong but watch this space.”
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Villa and Liverpool are currently fourth and fifth in the Premier League.
As things currently stand, England are expected to secure a fifth Champions League place for next season through the UEFA coefficient rankings.
However, with ten games remaining this season, the Reds are only three points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea.
Purslow served as CEO of Villa Park for five years between 2018 and 2023.
During this time he oversaw promotion to the Premier League and appointed Emery as manager in his final season at the club.
Asked why Emery did not want to sign Elliott, he added: “I have no input into that decision. I have worked with Emery and follow the club very closely.”
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“I noticed that 14 days after the summer window closed, the sporting director, a man called Monchi, left the club. It was a very, very difficult summer for Villa.”
Purslow continued: “It seems (that Elliott was a new signing from Monchi) that Unai said: ‘He wasn’t really my first choice’, or maybe my first choice at all.”
“Monchi is leaving, I thought, talked about it very loudly and (it’s) a shame. I think the boy is the meat in the sandwich.”
“I find it extremely unfortunate because I really believe he thought he was moving to Aston Villa permanently, it was just a late payment.”
“We can call it what we want but that’s what it looked like to me, very unfortunate, but at the moment there’s no prospect when you look at the table and how close it is that Liverpool will take some of the pressure off Villa.”
Monchi left his role in September after just over two years at the club.
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He had previously worked with Emery during his first spell as Sevilla’s sporting director.
As for Elliott, the Europa League could still provide him with playing opportunities during his Villa loan spell.
Later this month they face Lille in the round of 16, with the winner facing Bologna or Roma in the quarter-finals.
Elliott made two appearances during the league phase, including playing the full 90 minutes in the last game against RB Salzburg.