Liverpool have made transfer decision on James McConnell after Blackburn loan interest

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Transfer deadline day is upon us, and the main talking point surrounding Liverpool is the future of a number of academy players.

Kaide Gordon is set to join Portsmouth whilst Jayden Danns is inching closer to signing for Sunderland on loan, with Liverpool keen to secure short-term moves for their most exciting prospects with a few hours remaining in the transfer window.

One player who could have also left is James McConnell, with Blackburn Rovers interested in signing the midfielder despite Arne Slot recently saying that the 20-year-old will not be leaving on loan having started for Liverpool against PSV Eindhoven.

And it appears that Liverpool have come to a definitive decision on what to do with McConnell with late loan interest from Ewood Park now out there in the wild.

James McConnell staying put to be part of Liverpool’s first-team

According to the Times’ Paul Joyce, McConnell will remain with the Reds for the remainder of the season to play a part in Slot’s senior squad, with the Dutch manager set to keep his work on retaining the midfielder.

Joyce wrote on Twitter: “Sunderland leading chase for Liverpool’s Jayden Danns on loan. Kaide Gordon set for loan move to Portsmouth James McConnell staying as part of first team set up as Arne Slot suggested last week.”

Alexis Mac Allister lauded McConnell as ‘very good’ last year with the 20-year-old Liverpool academy graduate starting to make some waves in the first-team having featured three times for the Reds this season under Slot.

Yet with Liverpool having six first-team midfielders as well as fellow prospect Tyler Morton on their books, the Anfield side could be making a conservative decision in keeping hold of McConnell unless something extraordinary happens later today.

READ MORE: Four Liverpool players could still end up leaving before the January transfer deadline

Liverpool could regret James McConnell transfer decision

Slot has been nothing short of excellent in his management of Liverpool’s squads, with the former Feyenoord head coach knowing when and where to rotate his team and when to give which minutes to certain players in specific games.

Yet for McConnell, baring Liverpool’s upcoming FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle, there’s a real chance that the midfielder might not feature again for the Reds unless an injury crisis takes out one or two players in the position.

Indeed, Liverpool are making a big call in keeping McConnell for the rest of the season, and with so few minutes potentially available, the youngster could be left fuming with the Anfield side come the summer depending on how much the midfielder actually plays.