Liverpool are continuing to work on the final pieces of their summer transfer business, with Andoni Iraola preparing for his first Premier League campaign at Anfield.
The Reds have already made significant additions to the squad, while the futures of several players remain under discussion with the transfer window entering its final weeks.
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Attention is also being paid to departures, particularly among Liverpool’s younger players.
The club are looking to secure loan moves which can provide regular senior football, with several Academy players understood to be attracting interest from clubs across the EFL.
One such player had already emerged as a potential target for Preston North End earlier this summer.
Preston are interested in taking the midfielder on loan, while a number of other Championship clubs had also made enquiries. Leicester City were reportedly among the other sides monitoring his situation.
Now, Liverpool midfielder James McConnell is understood to be ‘close’ to joining Preston North End on loan, according to Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle.
The latest update suggests the move is almost certain to happen this summer, representing a significant step forward from the initial interest reported just two days ago.
McConnell, 21, joined Liverpool from Sunderland’s academy in 2019 and progressed through the Reds’ youth ranks before breaking into the first-team picture.
He made his senior debut against Toulouse in the Europa League in October 2023 before making his Premier League bow against Brentford the following month.
He also started Liverpool’s FA Cup victory over Norwich City in January 2024 and featured during the Reds’ League Cup-winning campaign that season.
Overall, he has made 13 first-team appearances for the club, providing one assist.
The midfielder spent last season on loan with Ajax but saw his spell cut short after making seven appearances, returning to Anfield in February.
He has since featured in three of Liverpool’s four pre-season friendlies this summer, but competition for midfield places could make regular first-team football difficult to secure.
Preston’s interest also makes sense from their perspective.
The Championship side are looking to strengthen their midfield following the departure of captain Ben Whiteman to Wrexham, with McConnell viewed as a potential option to add depth.
A move to Deepdale would therefore give McConnell the chance to play regular competitive football in one of England’s most demanding divisions, while Liverpool can continue to monitor his progress before deciding on his longer-term future.