Coach dashes Liverpool hopes after boost on £30m agreement

Liverpool didn't have their hopes up for long. A boost on a £30m deal was short-lived.

Liverpool struck a deal with Aston Villa in the summer that sent Harvey Elliott on loan there. It was supposed to be a win for everyone involved.

Elliott finally got to go and play regular football, while Villa got a hold of one of the brightest young talents in the country. If he played at all regularly, they'd sign him for around £30m.

But that's where things fell down. Villa quickly decided they didn't want to spend that £30m and have essentially frozen Elliott out ever since.

They're determined that he doesn't play the 10 games that trigger the clause. The midfielder has played six times this season - so they can essentially use him three more times.

That sixth, though, was a surprise. Villa started Elliott and gave him the full 90 minutes against Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday evening. It moved him one step closer to the clause in what was a clear boost for Liverpool.

Unai Emery shoots it all down

Villa boss Unai Emery, however, has dashed any remaining hopes that Elliott could end up playing 10 times. He was clear post-match, saying it just won't happen.

"It is not changing, okay? It is not changing," he said, per ESPN. "I told you that his situation is not changing.

"He played, fantastic how he helped us, but there is no changing the [situation] with him."

It's been a disaster of a deal, made worse by the fact Liverpool played Elliott for a minute at the start of the season. That appearance means he's played for two teams this season and regulations prevent him from playing for a third.

The only way around that is if Elliott moves to a club playing a different calendar to the European game. MLS would give him that, for instance - as would Brazil.

But with just two days remaining in the transfer window, that looks unlikely. Instead, Elliott will remain with Villa for the campaign and simply hope that Emery is wrong about his situation changing.

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