The 22-year-old midfielder joined Aston Villa from Liverpool on deadline day, but things haven’t gone as planned. Despite early optimism, Elliott’s minutes have rapidly dried up under Unai Emery, raising eyebrows across the Premier League.
According to reports, Villa’s deal for Elliott includes a conditional obligation to buy — worth around £35 million — which only activates if the youngster makes 10 appearances across all competitions this season.
Here’s the twist: he’s currently stuck at five appearances 😬
Elliott hasn’t featured since the Europa League victory over Feyenoord on October 2, where he came off the bench in the second half. Since then, he’s been repeatedly left out of Villa’s line-ups — including their recent clash against Go Ahead Eagles — leaving fans convinced that Emery may be intentionally avoiding triggering that expensive clause.
💬 One fan joked, “Unai is trying to stretch those 10 games across the entire season.”
Another added, “It’s obvious he never wanted Elliott in the first place — this was a panic signing.”
The speculation grew after it was revealed that Emery initially wanted West Ham star Lucas Paquetá before Elliott arrived. Sources say Villa only moved for Elliott late in the window after monitoring his standout performances for England’s U-21 side, where he helped them clinch the European Championship with goals in both the semifinal and final.
Despite his impressive attitude and work rate, Elliott has found himself sidelined — a situation that could trigger a sensational return to Anfield if the appearance threshold isn’t met.
Could Liverpool really get one of their brightest young talents back without paying a penny more? Time will tell… ⏳
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