Aston Villa are in the wrong about Harvey Elliott and could it have been avoided. Are Liverpool to blame too?

Harvey Elliott will soon know one way or another how his 2025/26 season will end. His deadline day transfer to Aston Villa on loan for Liverpool has been a disaster.

Elliott was the nearest thing Villa managed to an exciting signing in the summer transfer window. His obligation to buy, reported at a transfer fee of £35 million and supposedly triggered by his tenth appearance, made it look like a new signing in all but name. Lots of Villa supporters were enthused by it.

What followed...