Aston Villa are now closing in on a shock deadline day move for a Liverpool midfielder.

Villa are in advanced talks to sign Harvey Elliott on a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy.

Unai Emery has made signing a new versatile attacking midfielder a priority after missing out on Marco Asensio, who is expected to be announced as a new Fenerbahce player following a summer-long tug of war. Elliott, who has been heavily linked with a transfer away from Liverpool in search for better game time, is now a serious option.

The Athletic reports Villa are now ‘closing in’ on Elliott, with a loan-to-buy move advanced. Liverpool are said to be seeking assurances over a £35 million future fee. It’s understood Villa have explained they are not able to spend those funds this window due to UEFA financial restrictions, so the loan-to-buy route is the best alternative.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Villa are ‘on the verge’ of landing Elliott, with a medical ‘already booked’. It’s a race against time with the deadline now six hours away, but it looks likely to go through.

How would Harvey Elliott fit in at Aston Villa?

Capable of playing in central midfield, as a number 10 or on either flank, Elliott could be a very handy addition for Villa. The 22-year-old, who has scored 14 goals in 28 caps for England Under-21, played just 360 minutes in the Premier League last campaign but was has been used off the bench regularly throughout the past three seasons.

Elliott has fallen further down the pecking order at Liverpool following Florian Wirtz’s record arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, so a move away has been on the cards for a while. Villa, in desperate need of depth and quality in midfield and wide areas, could provide the former Fulham man with far more regular minutes.

Emery loves a versatile asset and Elliott is certainly one of those. The midfielder, eager to impress ahead of the World Cup, could lock down the right wing spot as the likes of John McGinn and Donyell Malen have looked uncomfortable in that role so far this season. Another option could be to start Elliott in the number 10 role, with Morgan Rogers back out on the right flank.