Liverpool have got certain questions to answer over their midfield options.
Three players - Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic are out of contract in 2027. Unless new deals are quickly wrapped up then Richard Hughes will face losing another three performers for nothing next summer.
Jones is closing in on a deal to join Inter Milan while teams in the Bundesliga and around the Premier League are thought to want Elliott.
Bajcetic is sought for a deal in his native Spain - with the Spaniard needing first-team football following his recovery from injury.
Liverpool ready to let McConnell leave on loan
Other youngsters could also end up leaving Anfield this summer - albeit on loan.
Trey Nyoni has been mentioned as an option for Swansea as well as teams in Scotland. James McConnell meanwhile is back on Merseyside following an unsuccessful stint at Ajax last season.
The 21-year-old is one of those earmarked for a future first-team role at Anfield but it looks like he too will be imminently leaving for a temporary spell.
McConnell close to PNE move
That’s according to a report in the Liverpool Echo - which claims the defensive midfielder is close to a move to Preston.
“Liverpool are busy moving a number of Academy players out on loan, with midfielder James McConnell understood to be close to joining Championship side Preston North End,” the report reads.
McConnell has featured on 13 occasions for the Reds’ first team - including an appearance in the 2024 EFL Cup final against Chelsea. Last season he moved alongside Vitezslav Jaros and John Heitinga to Ajax.
But the sacking of the former Liverpool assistant as head coach - as well as an injury - led to the spell being curtailed early.
High hopes for McConnell at Liverpool
He returned to the club in February after just seven appearances - working on his recovery before rejoining the first-team squad for pre-season.
McConnell now has the chance to feature for the Championship side and establish himself as a consistent midfield performer throughout the campaign.
Liverpool’s faith in the former Sunderland academy graduate has been evident through the five-year contract extension he signed last summer.
Hopefully the season goes well for him and he can return with extensive experience under his belt.