Winners and losers from Harvey Elliott’s transfer to Aston Villa include John McGinn and £140k-per-week man
Aston Villa look set to complete the signing of Harvey Elliott on loan from Liverpool.
Villa are edging closer to signing Elliott on deadline day, less than 24 hours after Unai Emery and Villa fell to a 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace.
This showcased the need for further additions at Villa Park, meaning Villa’s links to Elliott from Liverpool have resulted in excitement in B6.
It now looks as if the England under-21 international is going to join the Villans before the window slams shut at 7pm on 1 September, potentially being joined at Villa by Jadon Sancho from Manchester United.
Now, Villa News assesses the winners and losers of Elliott’s imminent arrival at Bodymoor Heath.
Winner – John McGinn
Villa have agreed to an obligation to sign Elliott from Liverpool for around £35million next season, meaning the 22-year-old is set to stick around the Midlands.
This could prove to be music to the ears of McGinn, who can now focus on playing in his best position, in the middle of the park in claret and blue.
McGinn has many strengths:
- Dribbling
- Gets fouled often
- Crossing
- Through balls
- Shooting from distance
In the opening two matches of the campaign, Emery opted to play the Scotland international off the right, but his lack of impact was highly criticised.
Against Palace, the skipper played centrally and looked much better despite a disappointing overall performance and result.
With Elliott likely to come in and feature off the right or as a 10, McGinn looks destined to feature more regularly where he wants to be.
Winner – Ollie Watkins
After such a superb pre-season, there was genuine hope that this could prove to be the best campaign yet for Watkins with the Villans.
It hasn’t started this way as Villa and the England international have gone three matches without scoring in each of their opening fixtures.
As a result, adding the creativity and attacking drive of Elliott should be beneficial to the striker after constant complaints of a lack of service.
Whether playing on the right or through the middle, the deadline day signing could prove to be the man who unlocks Watkins and helps him rediscover his goalscoring form.
Loser – Donyell Malen
There has been widespread frustration surrounding Malen and the lack of minutes that he has been afforded since his move from Borussia Dortmund.
As a result, excitement surrounded Villa Park when he started against Crystal Palace, but he was quiet on a dismal night in the Midlands.
| Stat vs Crystal Palace | Donyell Malen |
| Shot accuracy (%) | 0 |
| Chances created | 0 |
| Big chances missed | 1 |
| Dribble success rate (%) | 33 |
| Dispossessed | 2 |
| Duels lost | 4 |
After just one start on the right, there is every chance that Elliott comes in as a direct replacement for the Dutchman, who is yet to prove why Villa are paying him a reported £140k-per-week.
The signing of the versatile attacker on a loan with an obligation to buy is unlikely to represent positive news for Malen, especially after a disappointing spell at Villa already.
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