West Ham have approved Lucas Paqueta’s departure and are searching for a replacement, but a potential move for Harvey Elliott has hit a regulatory barrier. The 22-year-old, on loan at Aston Villa, has struggled for minutes under Unai Emery. A January switch was described as ideal for Elliott, yet Premier League and UEFA rules mean he cannot represent a third European club this season.
West Ham interest in Elliott stalls as rules block third club switch
West Ham United have sanctioned the departure of Lucas Paqueta and are aiming to replace him with a player who can create chances in the final third while filling multiple attacking roles. London World reported that Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott had been considered as an option for the Hammers as they look to reshape their attacking unit.
Elliott, 22, is currently on loan at Aston Villa but has found regular opportunities hard to come by. The report said he is not a key player for Unai Emery, and that a move in January would have suited the player. However, the proposed move to West Ham will not happen because of eligibility rules governing how many clubs a player can represent in one campaign.
Premier League and UEFA regulations state that a player can only play for two clubs in the same season. As a result, Elliott would have to leave Europe in order to play again during this campaign, meaning a switch from Aston Villa to West Ham would not allow him to feature for the London club this season.
The report also said Aston Villa had an obligation to sign Elliott for £35 million at the end of the season if he played a certain number of games. In order to avoid that, the West Midlands club have sidelined him completely. It remains unclear whether the midfielder can resolve his situation quickly and return to regular football before the season ends.
