Credit: Tung Manh Phan/Breaking Media

James Barker

Sat 16 May 2026 10:40, UK

Harvey Elliott will have a big point to prove next season, and that should only spur Leeds United on further to secure his signature.

The versatile midfielder has spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan with Aston Villa, but he’s had a fairly disastrous time in the West Midlands.

Indeed, the 23-year-old has played just four times in the Premier League with the Villans, as there would’ve been an obligation for them to purchase him for £35million if he’d made 10 top-flight outings.

Villa chiefs have evidently not been too impressed by what they’ve seen from the Liverpool man this term, and as such, he’s clearly been intentionally left out of league games in order to avoid triggering that permanent clause.

So, Elliott looks certain to leave Anfield in the upcoming summer transfer window, and Elland Road is reported to be one of his potential destinations.

What has Unai Emery said about Harvey Elliott?

Having played 149 times for Liverpool, Elliott’s talent and potential has always been held in high regard at Anfield, and indeed, around Premier League circles.

Still in the relative youth of his career, he’s most likely only scratched the surface of his full potential at Anfield, as it was only in the 2023-24 campaign where he turned out 53 times and provided 15 goal contributions for the Reds.

He’s only contracted with Liverpool until the summer of 2027 though, and that coupled with his hugely disappointing season with Aston Villa may push Anfield decision-makers towards selling him this summer.

As quoted via BirminghamLive, Villa boss Emery certainly isn’t happy with how Elliott’s Villa Park stay has panned out, revealing the weight of responsibility and guilt he carries over it every day.

“To now explain about the reason for this decision is very difficult, or it is easy, but it is not the moment,” Emery said.

“Of course, it is something embarrassing for everyone involved. My apologies for Harvey Elliott is every day in my mind.

“But it is [about] responsibility. We have our responsibility and Liverpool have their responsibility.

“It is something, as a human and as a person, how the season has gone has been difficult.”

Leeds should pounce on motivated Elliott this summer

Given how his season with Aston Villa has gone, and clearly seeing club chiefs not rate him highly enough to warrant playing him in the Premier League, Elliott will surely be pretty ticked off.

It’s essentially wasted a year of his career, and for how talented and the promise he has, that’s been a huge shame for all to see.

But, it’s also a situation Leeds can use to their advantage, as not only may he be available at a discounted rate this summer, whoever he turns out for next is sure to get a player desperate to prove many people wrong.

The Leeds project could interest Elliott massively, with Daniel Farke no doubt having eyes on kicking the Whites on next term, and with the Liverpool man capable of operating in numerous attacking positions, he could be a vital player at Elland Road.