Sunderland could face one of their academy stars in the Championship next season.
Sunderland parted ways with a number of their promising youngsters during Stewart Donald’s rein.
The Black Cats allowed the likes of Sam Greenwood, Bali Mumba, Josh Maja, Joe Hugill, Joel Asoro and Logan Pye to all leave the youth set-up to move up the ranks.
The Black Cats’ academy was left bare and lacking in talent, which has gradually been rebuilt and now hosts some of the most promising players in the EFL.
Sunderland have since had to watch on at some of their former players enjoying success elsewhere, with Mumba a regular for Plymouth, while Greenwood netted against his former club for Middlesbrough last season.
One ex-Sunderland gem who was let go by Donald and has now enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the Premier League is James McConnell.
The 19-year-old came up through the ranks on Wearside before joining Liverpool in 2019. Jurgen Klopp went on to prase him as ‘pure joy’ last summer, before going onto make his senior debut in the Europa League in October.
McConnell then went onto make his Premier League debut against Brentford a month later, before making his first start in the FA Cup, where he bagged an assist.
He then featured from the bench in the Reds’ 1-0 win in the Carabao Cup final in February.
James McConnell linked with Championship switch
After racking up seven appearances for Liverpool this season, McConnell has now been linked with a move to the Championship.
According to Hull Live, Hull City are eyeing a loan deal for McConnell.
The Tigers have enjoyed previous success with Liverpool youngsters Tyler Morton and Fabio Carvalho, and are hoping to use their relationship with the Premier League giants to bring in the teenager.
McConnell has made 13 appearances in Premier League 2 this term, while he has spent a large chunk of the campaign on the bench for the senior team.
Should Sunderland look to their former academy gem?
Sunderland shouldn’t be afraid to look to their former academy players to bolster their squad this summer, with Sam Greenwood also unlikely to earn a regular role for Leeds.
McConnell has mostly only played youth football, but his few senior appearances for Liverpool will have done him the world of good and has given him a taste of football that not many teenagers will get.
The midfielder was one of several youngsters labelled ‘absolutely insane‘ by Klopp after they lifted the Carabao Cup, and it seems highly likely that he would have earned more minutes if the German coach was staying at Anfield.
Arne Slot may not see McConnell the same way though and it seems likely he could move to the Championship, while the Black Cats would be silly not to compete with Hull.
The Reds may prefer to offload the teenager to the MKM Stadium given their previous history, but McConnell may have some say and could prefer a return to the Stadium of Light.