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Liverpool are set for an interesting transfer deadline day with a number of youngsters set for moves in the coming hours.

Kaide Gordon is ready to join Portsmouth on loan as Hull City have now joined the race to sign Jayden Danns on a temporary transfer, with Liverpool keen to ship off their biggest and best youngsters for the remainder of the season.

One player who was expected to stay is James McConnell, with Arne Slot confirming last week that the Liverpool midfielder will remain with the Reds having impressed the Dutch manager in the UEFA Champions League against PSV Eindhoven.

However, the Liverpool manager now appears to have changed his mind heading into deadline day, with McConnell attracting interest on a potential loan move to the English second-tier.

Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

According to journalist Darren Witcoop, McConnell is wanted by Blackburn Rovers on loan, with Liverpool potentially making a U-turn behind the scenes with the midfielder now seemingly available to leave Anfield for the remainder of the season.

Witcoop wrote: “Liverpool plan on sending out a number of young players on loan on deadline day.

James McConnell is also liked by Blackburn.”

McConnell was lauded as ‘special’ by Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas with the midfielder regarded throughout the club as one of the Reds’ most exciting talents, with the 20-year-old featuring three times for Slot’s senior team this campaign.

Yet despite the Liverpool manager saying McConnell wouldn’t leave Liverpool on loan, the decision to ship out the youngster to a Championship club could end up being the best decision, especially with first-team opportunities expected to be few and far between now and the end of the season.

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Slot keeping hold of McConnell makes sense if Liverpool are hit with a midfield injury crisis, with the Reds having six first-team options to call upon should anything happen to the likes of Alexis Mac Allister or Ryan Gravenberch.

Liverpool’s midfield optionsAlexis Mac AllisterRyan GravenberchDominik SzoboszlaiCurtis JonesHarvey ElliottWataru Endo

Yet given where McConnell currently is in his career and how few minutes the youngster has actually played this season compared to other Liverpool youngsters, a loan move will be for the best for the 20-year-old.

Indeed, McConnell is cleary highly-rated at Liverpool and has been tipped for a big future with the Reds, and letting the midfielder leave on loan could be what helps the youngster unlock his potential having displayed what he can do in a first-team setting.

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