"A WASTE": DEAN SMITH SLAMS VILLA FOR FREEZING OUT STAR HARVEY ELLIOTT
Trapped by FIFA rules and a £35m clause, Harvey Elliott eyes a shock MLS loan to Charlotte FC to save his 2026 World Cup chances.
Harvey Elliott, the guy who grabbed all those headlines at the under-21 Euros, is now stuck on the sidelines in the Premier League. He left Liverpool hoping for more minutes at Aston Villa, but that plan hasn’t worked out. Instead of regular football, he’s barely seen the pitch—just 174 minutes in all competitions so far. To make things even trickier, he’s already played for two European clubs this season, so FIFA rules block him from moving anywhere else in Europe for now.
That leaves Elliott with some pretty limited choices. Realistically, it’s either a move to the Saudi Pro League or a shot at MLS. Word is, he’s leaning toward the States. Charlotte FC are especially interested and looking at bringing him in on loan, since there’s no way they’re paying the £35 million Liverpool wants.
Dean Smith, who used to manage Villa and now runs Charlotte, actually confirmed all this to Sky Sports. He said, “I put the feelers out when I was over there. I figured there’s an opportunity here. If he’s not going to play for Villa and he can’t go anywhere else in Europe, why not let him get some games in before the World Cup break? If he sits out until then, it’s a waste. The door’s open if Villa and Liverpool agree.”
On Villa’s end, Unai Emery spoke pretty frankly about Elliott’s situation. “We respect him a lot—he’s a great professional, always respectful. But there’s a problem. He’s on loan, and if he plays more games, we have to buy him. Two months ago, we decided we’re not ready to spend that money. That’s just where things stand. He’s training hard, helping out, but it’s not good for anyone. That’s football—sometimes you make tough calls that don’t make anyone happy.”
CONOR GALLAGHER CONFIRMED AS "VITAL" STARTER FOR SPURS FOLLOWING BENTANCUR’S INJURY LAYOFF
Conor Gallagher proved the doubters wrong against Man City. Discover why his €40m move to Tottenham is finally paying off for Spurs.
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid both decided Conor Gallagher wasn’t worth the trouble. At Chelsea, he had his moments—Pochettino liked him, but the fans never really warmed up. When Chelsea shipped him off to Atletico, it made sense. Enzo Fernandez stepped up, took over Gallagher’s role, and fit in perfectly next to Caicedo, with Cole Palmer adding that extra spark up front.
Things didn’t get much better for Gallagher in Spain. He barely got a chance at Atleti, lost his spot in the starting eleven, and pretty much ended up on the transfer list before anyone had time to blink. Interest was lukewarm at best until the winter window rolled around. Aston Villa wanted him and went after him pretty aggressively, but then Tottenham swooped in late. Spurs needed someone to patch up the midfield after Bentancur’s injury, so they just paid up—40 million euros, no hesitation.
His start at Tottenham? Rough. Honestly, that was to be expected. He’d played well at Palace before, but after his struggles at Atleti, he needed time to adjust. Sitting on the bench in Spain didn’t do him any favours.
Then Gallagher showed up. People doubted whether he could really add creativity and move the ball forward for Spurs, so his early struggles got people worried. But then came the 2-2 draw against Manchester City. He suddenly looked like the player both Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank were so desperate to sign.
Against City, Gallagher flipped the script. He set up a crucial assist, drove play forward on the dribble, and kept drawing fouls—everything the Spurs needed. Defensively, he was all over the place in a good way: two tackles, three interceptions, a full 90 minutes, and a huge part of the Spurs clawing their way back into the game.
Tottenham fans loved it. They saw the effort, the attitude, and the hunger to win. Gallagher just wouldn’t quit, and in that second half, he, Xavi Simons, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, and Dominic Solanke ran the show. Four of those guys have been carrying Spurs lately, so Gallagher is fitting right in with them. That’s a pretty good sign he’s going to work out just fine in North London.
AC MILAN MEDICAL FAILURE: THE HIDDEN KNEE INJURY THAT CRUSHED MATETA’S £30M MOVE
Jean-Philippe Mateta's £30m move to AC Milan is OFF. Discover why a failed medical has put his France World Cup dreams in jeopardy.