James McConnell is likely to be recalled from his loan spell at Ajax, and he already has Championship clubs lining up to take him for the second half of the season.
McConnell last featured for Ajax at the start of November in a 12-minute cameo in the Champions League, finding himself cast aside under new head coach Fred Grim.
John Heitinga had primarily used the midfielder off the bench in his time at the club, but with only 219 minutes in the first half of the season, a recall would be in everyone’s interests.
Liverpool would then need a plan for the remainder of his campaign, and according to the *Mail*‘s Lewis Steele, McConnell has a handful of suitors in the Championship.
4 Championship clubs interested in McConnell
3CKWMCR AMSTERDAM - James McConnell of Ajax after the Dutch Eredivisie match between AFC Ajax and PEC Zwolle at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on September 13, 2025, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. ANP IRIS VAN DEN BROEK
West Brom, Derby, Oxford United and Swansea are all named as interested suitors, with the latter now managed by Jurgen Klopp‘s former coach Vitor Matos.
Matos has overseen three wins from seven after taking over at the end of November, but of the clubs mentioned, all but Derby are currently in the bottom half of the Championship.
This would put McConnell in a position of playing for a potential relegation candidate if Liverpool took up a potential loan offer from those three clubs.
The priority, though, will need to be assurances over game time as McConnell last played 90 or more minutes in April for the U21s.
Over the summer, Austrian side Sturm Graz were among those interested, along with Championship clubs Ipswich, Hull, Derby, Oxford and Hull, while there were also admirers in Germany.
Could McConnell play for Liverpool in the FA Cup?
PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 9, 2025: Liverpool's James McConnell on the pitch before the FA Cup 4th Round match between Plymouth Argyle FC and Liverpool FC at Home Park. Plymouth won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Should McConnell be recalled, as expected, there will be some who may consider him an option for the upcoming FA Cup tie against Barnsley, with it the ideal match to give him minutes and rest a first-team midfielder.
But if Arne Slot was to do this, the 21-year-old would not be able to finish the season on loan at another club as FIFA regulations stipulate players cannot play for more than two clubs in a single season.
It is an issue that Harvey Elliott is also facing with his loan deal at Aston Villa, as a brief cameo for Liverpool this season means he cannot move and play for another club in 2025/26.
There are exceptions, like signing for an MLS side, but that is unlikely, and thus Liverpool and Villa are expected to arrange talks to discuss potential options, including a recall.
Vitezslav Jaros, also on loan at Ajax, is unlikely to be recalled after being restored as their No. 1 following a run of fixtures on the bench.