Future of Liverpool midfielder PLUNGED into doubt | OneFootball

Liverpool experienced several big changes over the summer.

Not only did the club spend around £450m on new talents to upgrade the Premier League-winning squad, but several players also departed.

The headline losses were Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz - but we also saw the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah and Caoimhin Kelleher leave as Premier League champions.

Sporting director Richard Hughes also sanctioned some intriguing loan deals - including two players being sent to Ajax.

Heitinga insists on McConnell

Vitezslav Jaros would become the new goalkeeper in Amsterdam on a temporary spell - while James McConnell would marshal the midfield for one season.

McConnell, 21, has become a favourite of Arne Slot in his short time at the club - with the Dutch head coach offering the academy graduate plenty of first-team football during his first season in charge.

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The midfielder was permitted to join Ajax under the tutelage of new head coach John Heitinga.

The 41-year-old was also part of the major changes at Anfield over summer - leaving his post as Slot’s assistant coach after just one season together.

Heitinga DISMISSED by Ajax

He was determined to bring Jaros and McConnell to the Netherlands with him - but things have taken a dramatic and disastrous turn for the Dutch giants. And that spells danger for McConnell.

Heitinga on Thursday was relieved of his duties after just 15 games in charge - of which he won just five. Ajax have been battered from pillar to post in the Champions League - losing heavily to Inter, Marseillle, Chelsea and Galatasaray.

Erik ten Hag is now being lined up for a return to the Johan Cruyff ArenA.

© IMAGO - James McConnell Liverpool

Liverpool facing repeat of Bajcetic situation

And what of McConnell under new management?

Well, his arrival was questioned by several Ajax insiders - who feared players like Jorthy Mokio losing out on development time as a result of a loan player coming in.

That could mean a repeat of the situation which occurred with Stefan Bajcetic last season. The midfielder joined Red Bull Salzburg under Pep Lijnders - who was sacked as head coach at the winter break.

Bajcetic ended up being sent to Las Palmas for the second half of the season instead. What happens next to McConnell - and Jaros for that matter - remains to be seen.