MLS side Charlotte FC hold an interest in signing Harvey Elliott, who is on loan at Aston Villa from Liverpool, but the attacking midfielder is undecided on his future.

Elliott joined Villa on loan from Liverpool on deadline day in September in a move that included an obligation to make the transfer permanent in summer 2026 if he makes 10 appearances for Unai Emery’s side this season.

Liverpool sources have indicated that obligation is worth around £35million ($47.1m) with Villa sources suggesting it is closer to £30m.

Liverpool have no option to recall the 22-year-old, but Villa — whose January transfer plans are not contingent on the player’s future — are evaluating options for ending the agreement.

Villa would have to pay to terminate the loan, so if Elliott is to return to Merseyside, it would not necessarily be straightforward. The West Midlands side hope a new agreement can be reached with Liverpool.

Elliott cannot play for another club which also operates in a late summer to spring season due to having already represented Liverpool and Villa in 2025-26, leaving MLS as a prominent option.

In January 2025, Charlotte signed Wilfried Zaha in similar circumstances; the former Crystal Palace winger had played for Galatasaray and Lyon already that season, with the MLS side — who later made the move permanent — offering him an alternative, due to their season running in the calendar year rather than Europe’s August to May calendar.

Charlotte are coached by former Villa boss Dean Smith and finished fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference in 2025, before being eliminated by New York City FC in the first round of the post-season.

Dean Smith would be keen to bring Elliott to Charlotte (Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports

On Friday, Villa manager Emery confirmed that the club were evaluating cutting the midfielder’s loan spell at the club short this month.

“I am respecting him all we can because he’s a very good professional, very respectful but the situation we have is something,” Emery said.

“I must take a decision but not damage the person. Because he’s a very good person and player and he deserves the best. After he leaves, we can maybe use the position he is in to work for something.”

Emery added: “The problem we have with Harvey is this year he is on loan and in case he is playing matches, we must buy him. We decided two months ago we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we need.

“This is the issue. But he is training every day, very good with us to help us in training and of course it is not good for him or good for us, but it is football and sometimes we must take decisions that are not good for us.”

When Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was asked recently about whether Liverpool had explored the possibility of bringing Elliott back, he said: “No, Harvey is an Aston Villa player and he’s supposed to be going there for a season.