Reports indicate that Harvey Elliott’s situation has become increasingly complex due to two major issues as Liverpool and Aston Villa consider their next moves.

Elliott joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Liverpool last summer, with an option to buy valued at approximately £35 million. At the time, the deal was viewed as a significant coup for Villa, who landed the highly regarded midfielder following his impressive displays for England’s Under-21 side at the European Championships.

The 22-year-old had struggled for regular game time at Liverpool the previous season under Arne Slot, who preferred other options. Even so, Elliott’s talent meant he was tipped as a potential standout signing of the campaign.

However, the loan spell has failed to deliver as expected. Elliott has made only three Premier League appearances and has frequently been excluded from matchday squads altogether. This has led to discussions about a possible return to Anfield in January, although both clubs would need to agree to an early termination of the loan.

According to The Athletic, Elliott realistically has just two choices in January: stay at Villa or return to Liverpool. Having already played for two clubs this season, he cannot feature for a third. Villa manager Unai Emery reportedly believes other players in Elliott’s role are better suited to his tactical system, which helps explain the midfielder’s lack of minutes.

Complicating matters further, the loan agreement does not include a recall clause. As a result, Liverpool cannot unilaterally bring Elliott back and would need to compensate Villa financially to end the deal early.

At the same time, Liverpool may be forced into the January market for attacking reinforcements. Mohamed Salah’s long-term future remains uncertain, while Alexander Isak is expected to miss several months after suffering a leg fracture.

CaughtOffside reports that Liverpool are considering short-term solutions, including a potential loan move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Gonçalo Ramos. While Ivan Toney and Dušan Vlahović are admired by the club, they are seen as longer-term targets rather than immediate fixes.

The report adds that a surprise six-month loan for Ramos is emerging as an appealing option to help cover Isak’s absence.