Image Credits: Imago Images
It’s set to be an interesting January transfer window for Liverpool for a number of reasons.
Marc Guehi, who’s still wanted by the Reds, can negotiate a contract with a foreign club in the winter window.
Should he not engage with any of the European clubs interested in him, it could suggest he is waiting for Liverpool or another Premier League club.
There is also Antoine Semenyo, whose release clause of £65m in the January window activates for 10 days, is also player to keep an eye on.
However, there seems to be one Liverpool man who is nailed on for a return to Anfield.
James McConnell, 21, has made just four Eredivisie appearances for Ajax on loan this season, with only one start in the league. His opportunities have been limited since arriving in the Dutch capital.
Complicating matters, the recent departure of John Heitinga- who initially advocated for McConnell’s move to Amsterdam – means the midfielder has lost a significant supporter at Ajax.
Heitinga, who left the club in early November, was a key reason for McConnell’s arrival but is no longer at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
As a result, Dutch journalist Johan Inan of Algemeen Dagblad has claimed that all signs point to the youngster returning to Anfield in January:
“The chance that McConnell will regain that place [as No.6] is not great.”
“Internally, there are more and more noises that Ajax and Liverpool may break off the loan period of the English talent in January now that he has little perspective.”
It is not the first time Liverpool have had to reassess a loan move gone wrong.
Last season, Stefan Bajcetic endured a similarly frustrating spell at Red Bull Salzburg under former Reds assistant Pep Lijnders, only for that arrangement to collapse when Lijnders was sacked midway through the campaign.
For McConnell, a mid-season return to Anfield would present fresh questions about his next step.
Arne Slot is reportedly a “huge fan” of the midfielder and had plans to integrate him further into the first-team setup before the Ajax loan was agreed.
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