Unai Emery has some big decisions to make in the coming weeks. Aston Villa have impressed so far this season, they are currently on a run of one win from five games in all competitions.
With Manchester United piling on the pressure and Liverpool beginning to find form in the race for a Champions League spot, now is the time for the Aston Villa manager to be ruthless.
That is unlikely to result in another opportunity for Harvey Elliott, however. Emery has made up his mind on the Liverpool loanee since his departure and the buyout clause has left the midfielder looking in the shops.
Harvey Elliott’s season by the numbers
On paper, Elliott is a 22-year-old midfielder who has already won two Premier League titles. He should be one of the most sought after young players in the country. The truth is that both Liverpool and Aston Villa have been fighting to avoid his signature all season.
It was brutal as it happened to a young player. In one of Monchi’s last acts as sporting director at Villa, he welcomed a player Emery – as we now know – clearly never liked and it was Elliott who paid the price.
Of course, if this was a loan with no strings attached, then the 22-year-old would get plenty of cameos from the bench and a real chance to change Emery’s mind.
Alas, the deal includes what turned out to be the most frustrating part of the purchase. Say, if Elliott plays ten Premier League games, Aston Villa are forced to secure his signature for around £30m.
|
Harvey Elliott |
Minutes 25/26 |
Appearance |
|---|---|---|
|
The Premier League |
110 |
5 |
|
The Europa League |
94 |
2 |
|
The Carabao Cup |
67 |
1 |
In their PSR struggle, it’s just money the Villans don’t want to part with for a player who hasn’t impressed.
What’s next for the Liverpool youngster remains to be seen. Arne Slot often avoids questions about the midfielder, saying he is an Aston Villa player – Aston Villa’s problem. It’s been a brutal time for Elliott.
But, he is not the only one to watch on the bench at Aston Villa. It’s time for Emery to be ruthless and drop another midfielder.
The Aston Villa loanee must receive the Elliott treatment
Aston Villa are finding out the hard way that not all loan deals work as well as Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford last season – especially as Douglas Luiz continues to struggle.
The Brazilian returned to Villa Park on loan from Juventus in the January transfer window with an option to buy for £21.7m, thus ending his spell at Nottingham Forest in the process. Finally, he was back where he left off to show his high level.
It was believed that there would soon be no place like the midfielder’s home, but that was not to be. Luiz’s struggles have continued and Emery has a decision to make.
|
Douglas Luiz – 25/26 Premier League |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (* = per 90 minutes) |
Number |
|
Minutes |
656 |
|
Successful Passes * |
56.52 |
|
Opportunities created * |
2.06 |
|
Dribbled Past * |
0.69 |
The numbers are not entirely catastrophic. This midfielder is still reliable in handling the ball. He’s been more exposed than ever in the last 12 months, whether he’s at Nottingham Forest, Juventus or Villa.
In almost all of Emery’s sides throughout his managerial career, he has not allowed passengers and Luiz should be no different. Like Elliott, Villa should not secure the midfielder’s signature on a permanent deal this summer.
This time, the ball is at least in their court. Their deal with Juventus includes an option and not an obligation to buy the Brazilian, who has been made to regret leaving the Midlands club in the first place.
Injuries are not helping Villa Park and that is why Luiz has started the last four Premier League games. The fact that Emery’s side have won just one of those games should tell the Spaniard all he needs to know about the Juventus midfielder.
Emery must sell Aston Villa flop who has been the worst signing since Sanson
Aston Villa have a number of players on the books who are not at the level required to qualify for 2026.
