Harvey Elliott may have endured a tough season at Aston Villa, but that hasn't stopped Premier League and European clubs from circling. The 23-year-old midfielder is still a wanted man as he prepares to return to Liverpool for pre-season this summer.

Elliott's loan move to Villa Park promised so much but delivered very little. With just nine appearances across all competitions and only four in the Premier League—starting just once—it's been a campaign to forget. The deal included an obligation to buy for £35 million if he reached 10 league appearances, but manager Unai Emery pulled the plug back in November, deciding not to make the move permanent.

Despite the setback, Elliott's talent hasn't gone unnoticed. Fresh off winning the Player of the Tournament award as England Under-21s clinched Euro 2025 last summer, he remains a hot commodity. Clubs in England and abroad are keeping tabs, even if his future at Liverpool looks uncertain under Arne Slot's management.

The playmaker's professionalism has earned him praise at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground, where he's popular with teammates and staff alike. But sources admit this has been a wasted year that's stalled his progress. He joined Villa hoping to catch Thomas Tuchel's eye for World Cup contention, only to watch Under-21 colleague Elliot Anderson leapfrog him into the senior setup with six appearances under Tuchel.

January talks between Villa and Liverpool to cut the loan short fell through, meaning Elliott will now report back to Melwood for pre-season. He was an unused substitute in Villa's 4-0 Europa League semi-final win over Nottingham Forest—a result that booked their spot in the final against Freiburg. Earlier this month, Emery made seven changes for a Premier League clash with Tottenham, but Elliott was left out entirely.

For a player of his caliber, the road ahead is clear: a fresh start awaits, whether at Anfield or elsewhere. The question is, who will make the first move?