£35m Liverpool midfield star in complete limbo | OneFootball

Liverpool Transfers and the Uncertain Future of Harvey Elliott

A winter of hesitation and hard decisions

The January transfer window rarely delivers clarity at Anfield, but this week has brought a particular sense of unease. Liverpool are edging towards the quieter end of the market once again, yet beneath that restraint sits a series of unresolved questions — not least surrounding the future of Harvey Elliott.

Liverpool have moved swiftly to secure the signing of teenage centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna. As first reported James Pearce in The Athletic, the defender, who does not turn 18 until March, is expected to arrive on Merseyside ahead of pre-season and will initially link up with Rob Page’s under-21s squad. It is a deal shaped by long-term planning rather than immediate need, fitting neatly with the club’s recruitment philosophy.

That long view contrasts sharply with Elliott’s present reality.

Elliott loan unravels at Aston Villa

Elliott’s season-long loan at Aston Villa was designed as a pathway to permanence. Instead, it has stalled. The midfielder has not featured since October 2, with Unai Emery openly acknowledging that Villa are exploring ways to end the agreement early. That matters because the loan contains an obligation to buy — triggered if Elliott reaches 10 appearances — worth around £35 million.

Sources close to Elliott have played down suggestions that Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC could offer a solution, insisting that a move to the United States is not currently being considered. Villa have yet to open talks with Liverpool about terminating the deal, but momentum is clearly moving in that direction.

For Liverpool, the situation presents an awkward dilemma. Elliott remains one of the club’s most technically gifted academy graduates, yet his pathway into regular senior football continues to narrow.

Squad pressures amplify the transfer debate

The wider context only sharpens the issue. Liverpool have been without Alexander Isak since suffering a broken leg, while Mohamed Salah’s Africa Cup of Nations involvement has stripped the attack of its most reliable outlet. Hugo Ekitike, the club’s top scorer, missed the draw at Fulham through a minor hamstring problem, further stretching resources.

With attacking output becoming increasingly inconsistent, the absence of a settled creative option has been glaring. Cody Gakpo’s form has fluctuated, while Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha have struggled for sustained minutes. Florian Wirtz has provided moments of relief, but the margins remain fine.

It is in this landscape that Elliott’s future feels particularly unresolved.

Market priorities and departures

Liverpool’s broader transfer focus remains on a centre-back and a wide attacker. Marc Guehi continues to loom large as a summer target, having come close to joining last year before Crystal Palace pulled out. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, patience may yet be rewarded.

Elsewhere, Joel Ordonez has been ruled out despite reports in South America suggesting otherwise. The club’s reluctance to pursue short-term fixes remains intact, especially after last summer’s £450 million outlay.

Departures are expected to be minimal, though loan exits for younger players remain likely. Elliott, however, stands apart — his situation emblematic of a window defined not by arrivals, but by uncertainty.