A new Ryan Gravenberch is COMING to Liverpool

Liverpool replenished their squad with around £450m worth of spending over the summer. But one area that didn’t benefit from a refit was central midfield.

Arne Slot still has the same Premier League title-winning options at his disposal this season - including Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo.

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In fact there is an argument to be made that the Anfield club are slightly WEAKER - on numbers at least - owing to the summer transfer campaign.

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We’ve seen Tyler Morton join Lyon on a permanent basis - where he has settled in well - while Harvey Elliott moved to Aston Villa on loan with an obligation to buy.

James McConnell moves on loan to Ajax

Another player who departed was James McConnell - recruited by Ajax under head coach John Heitinga who was Arne Slot’s assistant last season.

McConnell, 21, is therefore moving to work under a coach who knows him well.

The Englishman is patiently waiting for his chance to arrive in Amsterdam - missing the weekend game against NAC owing to injury and is currently reported absent for the midweek Champions League game against Marseille.

But he is determined to SURPRISE some people during his loan year in the Eredivisie - having won the favour of Arne Slot during their season together at Anfield.

McConnell aims to SURPRISE people

McConnell was tipped to move on loan last January but Slot opted to keep him around. He was rewarded with some first-team football but really needs a season of regular minutes to ensure his promising career remains on track.

“It's a good team, and I've only just arrived, so I have to wait patiently for my chance,” he told Voetbal International.

“The manager knows my game and my qualities. Now I just need the chance to really show what I'm capable of.

“He doesn't really expect anything specific from me, just to show what he's already seen from me at Liverpool. Hopefully, I can surprise a few people, because I don't think many people have seen me play in the Netherlands yet.”

James McConnell can be Liverpool's NEW Gravenberch

McConnell has already appeared 13 times for the Liverpool first team - under Jurgen Klopp and Slot - since making his breakthrough in 2023.

He has changed position - from winger to attacking midfielder and now to his regular station at No6.

The former Sunderland youth admits he looks up to “fantastic” Liverpool teammate Ryan Gravenberch with the 23-year-old rising to become one of the best in the world over the last year or so.

Gravenberch an inspiration for McConnell

“I paid a lot of attention to Ryan Gravenberch last year,” he says.

“Because he's actually the type of number 6 I aspire to be. He's fantastic at breaking through the lines with his runs, which is also a strength of mine, to a lesser extent.

“And he's also gone from a number 8 to a number 6, just like me. In that respect, he's an inspiration to me, so to speak.

“Playing with him, seeing up close how he claims the ball, how brave he is, how much he's improved his defensive work, is also something to learn from.”

McConnell has made two appearances for Ajax so far - including one in the Champions League - and is under contract at Liverpool until 2030.

He is very much seen as a star of the future for the first team - and will no doubt shine at Anfield once his year abroad is complete.

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