HARVEY WALLBANGER

Emery has Elliott on ice at Villa

- BY JOHN TOWNLEY

UNAI EMERY admitted that Aston Villa decided two months ago against signing Harvey Elliott from Liverpool permanently.

The 22-year-old's last appearance for Villa came at the end of October in the 2-0 win at Feyenoord and he is unlikely to be involved against Nottingham Forest today.

Despite scoring Villa's first goal of the season against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, Elliott has only featured five times for the club half the number of appearances required for Villa to be obliged to sign him permanently.

The agreed transfer fee for Elliott, should he make 10 appearances while on loan, was £35million.

However, the two clubs are now in discussions to determine the midfielder's future as Emery explained that his departure would free up space to strengthen his squad.