Liverpool: Unai Emery confirms £35m Harvey Elliott transfer decision as FIFA ruling reveals key clause | OneFootball

On-loan midfielder faces an uncertain future after being frozen out by Unai Emery

Unai Emery has effectively confirmed Harvey Elliott will return to Liverpool in the January transfer window.

As per the conditions of the loan agreement, the deal will be made permanent for £35million if he makes ten Premier League appearances for Villa.

So far, Elliott featured four times for Emery’s side in English football’s top-flight, though not since being replaced at half-time on his one and only start against former club Fulham at the end of September.

Speaking ahead of Villa’s Europa League clash against Basel, Emery - who has left Elliott out of his travelling squad - has revealed the club will not be taking up the option to trigger a permanent transfer for the attacking midfielder.

"We are speaking with him and about his situation. He is not here with us," Emery said during the pre-match press conference.

"First, my decision and also the situation. He is on loan playing with us, but he is not definitely adding to us with a permanent contract.

"Hopefully we can get the best for him and the best for us. I respect him as a player and as a person. He is training well, but we have one circumstance with him.

"Hopefully we can get a solution for him to try to play consistently and try to continue in his career with us or not."

Frozen out: Harvey Elliott

AFP via Getty Images

As Fifa rules prohibit players from appearing for more than two sides in one season, Elliott finds himself in an awkward position.

He cannnot move to another club in January as he has already featured for Villa and Liverpool - as a late substitute in the win over Newcastle back in August - this season.

A return to Merseyside in the new year looks likely, possibly as cover for Mohamed Salah who will be at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, otherwise he risks the second half of the season as Emery has made it clear he will not make the six required Premier League appearances to earn a permanent transfer.