Liverpool have already made one move ahead of the January transfer window opening this week
Liverpool expect significant loan interest in James McConnell during the January transfer window after the midfielder was recalled early from his temporary spell at Ajax. McConnell is already back at the AXA Training Centre after a frustrating time in Holland was cut short following an agreement between all parties concerned.
The 21-year-old midfielder joined Ajax on a season-long loan where he initially linked up with former Reds assistant coach John Heitinga, who left Anfield in the summer having been appointed head coach of the Amsterdam side.
However, McConnell featured for just 219 minutes over seven appearances in the Eredivisie and Champions League, only two of which were as a starter.
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The youngster hasn’t kicked a ball since Heitinga was sacked early in November and has spent the last month on the sidelines due to an injury from which he is continuing to recover.
A host of Championship clubs were keen on taking McConnell on loan during the summer and are likely to again enquire over signing the player for the remainder of the season once he regains fitness towards the end of the January window.
Among those originally interested were Swansea City, who are now managed by former Liverpool elite development coach Vitor Matos.
McConnell made his senior Liverpool debut in October 2023 and has gone on to make 13 appearances, including a substitute outing in the League Cup final win over Chelsea the following February.
He played three times under Arne Slot last season and earned praise from the Reds boss for his display in the 3-2 Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven in January.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old left-back James Norris – who has made two outings for Liverpool – is in talks about a permanent transfer to League of Ireland side Shelbourne, where he spent the majority of 2025 on loan.
And it is expected Owen Beck will remain at Liverpool for the rest of the campaign as he continues to recover from hamstring surgery that cut short a season-long loan at Championship side Derby County before he was able to feature in the first team.
