Liverpool midfielder James McConnell is reportedly closing in joining Eredivisie giants Ajax on a season-long loan deal this summer.
According to a report from ESPN, James McConnell is on the verge of joining Ajax on a season-long loan deal this summer. The 20-year-old will play under former Liverpool coach Johnny Heitinga at the Eredivisie club.
Meanwhile, a report by The Athletic has revealed that the highly-rated midfielder has signed a new five-year contract with Liverpool, and he will join the Euro outfit on loan for the remainder of the season.
The English midfielder is highly rated at the club, and it is no surprise that Liverpool have secured his long-term future before letting him move on. They will hope that he can continue his development with regular football at Ajax and return to Liverpool as a better player next summer.
The 20-year-old needs regular game time to continue his development. Sitting on the bench at Liverpool would not have benefited him. Ajax are one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe, and they have a famed youth setup that has churned out some of the best players in the world.
Liverpool will hope that Ajax can help the youngster develop further and fulfil his tremendous potential. The move to a European league will be invaluable experience for James McConnell at this stage of his career. It will be interesting to see if he can adapt quickly and make an instant impact at Ajax.
McConnell could develop further at Ajax
There is no doubt that James McConnell is a promising young talent with a bright future. If he can play regularly at the Dutch outfit, it will help him improve further. He needs experience in order to grow, and Liverpool will not be able to provide him with that opportunity just yet. Meanwhile, playing under Johnny Heitinga should benefit him.
The 20-year-old will hope to establish himself as an important player for Liverpool in the future. The loan move to Ajax could prove to be ideal for him. The fact that Liverpool have secured his long-term future before sending him out on loan shows how highly they rate him. They will certainly hope that he can establish himself as a key player for the club in the future.