Liverpool midfielder James McConnell is expected to depart Anfield on loan

Liverpool academy star James McConnell broke into the first team under legendary boss Jurgen Klopp last season and performed well whenever given a chance. However, with Jurgen Klopp bidding farewell in May and being replaced by Arne Slot, the youngster appears set to follow the German tactician out of Anfield albeit temporarily.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are ready to sanction a loan move for James McConnell before the August 30 transfer deadline.

The 19-year-old was a part of the Reds’ first team in the pre-season tour of the United States, but despite travelling with the squad, a minor injury kept him away from featuring. He played no part in the club’s final pre-season friendlies against Sevilla and Las Palmas on Sunday, with a departure likely before the end of the month.

McConnell, who joined Liverpool from Sunderland in 2019, has progressed through the youth ranks into the first-team squad. The teenager made his Reds’ debut in the Europa League against Toulouse last October.

The midfielder made his first start for the senior side in the FA Cup third-round win over Norwich City and was part of the youthful side that won the 2024 Carabao Cup against Chelsea at Wembley. Overall, the talented boy from Tyneside made nine appearances across all competitions in his breakout season at Anfield as Klopp gave some of the academy kids the opportunity to showcase their talent in top football amidst an injury crisis.

The aforementioned report adds several EFL clubs are vying for McConnell’s signature on loan for the 2024/25 campaign and the Reds are prepared to let him leave on loan so that he can enjoy regular minutes and continue his development.

As Liverpool have high hopes from McConnell, they only prefer to sanction a loan move for him in the final weeks of the transfer window. New boss Arne Slot currently has Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Stefan Bajcetic and Tyler Morton as No.6 options, and with the club in pursuit of highly-rated Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, it just goes on to show that McConnell will unlikely get game time in the upcoming season.

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Developments are likely for McConnell in the coming days. Wherever he goes on loan, the young midfielder will look to get regular game time and come back experienced and hungry to challenge for a spot in the first team next season.