Liverpool star left out of pre-season tour set to secure move despite Reds rating him

Liverpool are set to allow James McConnell to depart Anfield this summer after leaving him out of their pre-season tour. The Reds flew out to Asia over the weekend ahead of games against AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos. They named a 29-man squad for the two fixtures but McConnell was omitted from the group.

The young midfielder has been a regular for Liverpool's youth sides, bagging two goals last season and chipping in with one assist. He is rated highly by those in power at Anfield and looks to have a bright future. Now, the time has come for McConnell to spread his wings and get a taste of senior football away from Merseyside.

He will be allowed to leave the club on loan, according to the Daily Mail, with a host of Championship sides thought to be keen. The likes of Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion and Derby County are said to be interested in taking him on board for the season.

The report adds that Liverpool are preparing to hand McConnell a new long-term contract, with the Reds hopeful that he can be a big player for them in the future. Alternatively, they will be able to make a profit on his signature if he fails to make the grade.

McConnell is missing their pre-season tour due to a minor injury which he is still recovering from. It was decided that a long-haul flight to Asia and the resulting jetlag would risk worsening the problem, with Liverpool eager to stay on the safe side.

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Many of the club's emerging talents have been loaned to the Championship over the last few seasons. The likes of Tyler Morton, Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak have all reaped the rewards of temporary spells in England's second tier.

It remains to be seen if McConnell will follow suit, with clubs in Germany also said to be interested in snapping him up.

Arne Slot has made it clear that he is a huge fan of the midfielder, showering him with praise after picking him to start against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last season.

"I liked him a lot today," said the Dutchman. "Maybe the end result would be good to go somewhere and play, but he's also a player that hasn't played much 90 minutes in the last six or seven months because he was injured for a while."

McConnell joined Liverpool from Sunderland's academy back in 2019. He has made three senior starts for the Reds in addition to a handful of substitute appearances, including a brief cameo in last season's Carabao Cup final.

Initially an attacking midfielder, McConnell adapted his game to play in a deeper role during Jurgen Klopp's time in charge.

The former Reds manager was left impressed with his pre-season display against Leicester City two years ago, saying: "The boy James is just a joy to watch. He had never played the [holding midfield] position before but he threw his heart on to the pitch."

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