A general view of a Liverpool corner flag inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
A general view of a Liverpool corner flag inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The defender is reportedly in talks over leaving Liverpool.
Liverpool are in discussions over the permanent departure of a defender, reports suggest.
According to The Athletic, the Reds could allow youngster James Norris to leave the club in the January transfer window. The left-back is in discussions over a return to Shelbourne, having spent the majority of the year in Dublin.
Norris moved to Shelbourne in February for the 2025 League of Ireland campaign. The left-back established himself as a regular at Tolka Park. He made a total of 45 appearances, including playing in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, as well as the group stage of the Europa Conference League.
Shelbourne finished third in the League of Ireland table, meaning they’re into the 2026-27 Europa Conference League second qualifying round.
Norris returned to Liverpool for the final few weeks of this year and has been spotted training with Arne Slot’s first team. But after signing Milos Kerkez for £40 million from AFC Bournemouth last summer and vice-captain Andy Robertson ahead in the pecking order, the Reds are ready to allow Norris, 22, to depart on a permanent basis.
Norris, who has made two brief Reds first-team appearances - in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup respectively - will want to light the touchpaper to his senior career, having also had a loan spell at Tranmere Rovers.
On the subject of left-backs, Owen Beck will return from Derby County. The 23-year-old joined the Championship club in the summer, having spent last term at Blackburn Rovers. He reunited with head coach John Eustace at Pride Park after working together at Blackburn.
But Beck has had a torrid time with a hamstring injury at Derby and he has not made a single appearance. The former Wales under-21 international, who had similar fitness woes at Blackburn, is set to be on the treatment table for another couple of months.
"I feel really sorry for Becky. It's been a really difficult time for him," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby. "Having worked with him at Blackburn, to bringing him to the football club this season was a great success from the recruitment side for sure to be able to get a player of that quality here and to showcase him over the course of the season everyone was excited for that. But this is all part of his learning and development, we are really sorry for him but he will come back stronger."
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