'MADNESS': Liverpool midfielder deal torn apart

Liverpool made the decision to part with SEVERAL players last summer.

Arne Slot’s Premier League title-winning squad was ripped up - as space was required to accommodate plenty of new faces.

Firm favourites like Caoimhin Kelleher and Harvey Elliott were sold on - while others such as Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold also left.

One player who was released on a temporary deal meanwhile was James McConnell.

The 21-year-old midfielder has established himself as somewhat of a favourite of Arne Slot - being offered plenty of first-team minutes under the Dutchman last season having won over the new head coach.

Liverpool decided to loan James McConnell

It was decided in summer that McConnell would benefit from a year’s worth of first-team football elsewhere on a loan deal.

There was widespread surprise in the Netherlands when Ajax inked a deal for the youngster - as the Amsterdam giants have got plenty of promising talents of their own.

It was believed that McConnell would stand in the way of their own homegrown players - such as Jorthy Mokio.

But new Ajax head coach was determined to turn to McConnell to solve a shortage in midfield - having worked with him last season at Liverpool.

Heitinga takes McConnell with him to Ajax

Heitinga left Anfield to become Ajax’s new head coach - taking Vitezslav Jaros and McConnell along with him. It’s not going to plan for McConnell however - who has been targetted by criticism in the Dutch media.

His latest outing came against FC Twente in the Eredivisie over the weekend. McConnell started - but departed the fray at half-time with Ajax one behind.

He was replaced by 22-year-old Youri Regeer - who helped the Amsterdam side turn the deficit into an advantage.

Ajax deal for McConnell was 'madness'

Now McConnell’s transfer is being described as “madness” by one prominent Ajax voice - with Heitinga just barely hanging on after a sequence of poor results and performances.

“From what I saw, I thought Youri Regeer played well," the influential Valentijn Driessen told De Telegraaf's Kick-off podcast.

"He came on excellently. I consider him much more of a number 6 for Ajax.

"I really wonder what that guy from Liverpool is doing here. I really wonder. Honestly, what madness."

The game over the weekend represented McConnell’s first start in the Dutch top flight and it remains to be seen whether he will get another chance any time soon.

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