Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has appealed to Liverpool to rethink the obligation-to-buy clause included in Harvey Elliott’s current loan spell at Villa Park, warning that the situation could negatively affect the player’s development.

Elliott, who joined Villa on loan last summer, has featured seven times so far. Under the terms of the agreement, Villa would be required to complete a permanent £35 million transfer if the midfielder appears in three more matches — a condition Emery believes is complicating matters.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, the Spanish coach explained that the issue goes beyond football alone, blending sporting decisions with business considerations. Emery stressed that, from a purely footballing perspective, Elliott deserves more minutes and has qualities the team needs on the pitch.

According to Emery, the problem lies in the automatic purchase condition, which forces the club to weigh financial obligations against team selection. He revealed that discussions with both the player and Liverpool have already taken place, with talks beginning several months ago, although the January transfer window has now closed.

Emery made it clear that Elliott has remained professional throughout the situation, describing him as patient, calm, and fully committed in training. However, the Villa manager admitted that limiting the player’s involvement due to contractual clauses risks holding him back.

The former Villarreal and PSG coach believes removing the obligation clause would allow Villa to make decisions based solely on football merit, benefiting both the player and the team. If Liverpool choose not to amend the agreement, Emery suggested the current arrangement could continue to stall Elliott’s progress.

For now, the final decision rests with Liverpool, but Emery’s message was clear: allowing Elliott to play freely without contractual pressure would be the fairest outcome for everyone involved.