Liverpool’s midfielder is now expected to be brought back from his loan move after spending several weeks without playing time.
Loan spells are meant to give players consistent minutes away from their parent club, but that aim hasn’t been met for several of Liverpool’s loanees this season.
Harvey Elliott’s temporary switch to Aston Villa has gone badly wrong. The 22-year-old has been sidelined under Unai Emery and is stuck in a difficult situation due to rules that stop a player from turning out for more than two clubs in one season. Arne Slot recently played down the idea of bringing the England U21 international back to Anfield, and Elliott isn’t the only young Red struggling for opportunities elsewhere.
James McConnell has also found minutes hard to come by at Ajax. He hasn’t featured since former Liverpool assistant Johnny Heitinga was dismissed in early November, although injuries have ruled him out of a few matches recently. His move to the Dutch giants even came as a surprise to some observers at the time.
McConnell recall ‘on the cards’
According to Mail Sport reporter Lewis Steele, the 21-year-old is now expected to return to Liverpool in January after slipping out of favour in Amsterdam. Several Championship sides — including West Brom, Derby, Oxford and Swansea — are said to be keeping tabs on him.
The report also suggests McConnell could feature in Liverpool’s upcoming FA Cup tie against Barnsley, though that would place him in a similar two-club dilemma to Elliott under competition regulations.
Regular football is crucial for McConnell
With his prospects at Ajax looking slim, recalling McConnell and reassessing his next move makes sense, especially given the reported interest from the Championship. Despite turning 21 in September, he has only 20 senior appearances to his name and will be eager to play consistently in 2026 rather than lose more valuable development time.
If Liverpool opt to loan him to England’s second tier, finding the right fit will be key. A club where he’s trusted to start regularly is essential, and Swansea could be an appealing option given the presence of former Liverpool coach Vitor Matos, should he be willing to back the youngster.
Both McConnell and Elliott highlight how loan deals can fail when timing or destination is off, even if circumstances — like Heitinga’s sudden dismissal — were impossible to predict. Wherever McConnell ends up after January, the hope is that he enjoys sustained game-time for the rest of the season and can push towards a future role in Liverpool’s first team.
