Paul Warne is now eyeing up a move for a Premier League player on loan to bolster his midfield ranks at Derby County.
Derby are reportedly edging closer to announcing their first signing of the summer.
Alan Nixon revealed that they were close on a couple while the club have apparently wrapped up a deal for an unnamed Premier League player on loan.
Paul Warne has his work cut out to complete his transfer business as the Derby boss thinks they need at least 10 players to stay up in the Championship after letting go of six in May.
The loan market is an avenue that Warne is looking to explore, with sides in the EFL allowed to name a maximum of five loan players in a matchday squad.
To save on transfer fees and get a talented youngster in return, Derby are said to be a long-term admirer of Liverpool attacking midfielder Bobby Clark.
The 19-year-old is ready to be shipped out on loan to a Championship club, along with another Reds teammate.
Derby County want Liverpool midfielder James McConnell
According to the Daily Mail, a whole host of second-tier sides are interested in Liverpool midfielder James McConnell, including Blackburn Rovers, Hull City and the Rams.
McConnell enjoyed a brilliant breakthrough campaign at Anfield, with the 19-year-old making nine first-team appearances.
The teenager alerted former manager Jurgen Klopp in last year’s pre-season friendlies as the German labelled him a “joy to watch” following his impressive display against Leicester City.
Under-21 head coach Barry Lewtas also singled him out for praise, lauding his versatility as one of his main attributes, saying: “He is showing us lots of different things to his game this year, playing as a No.6, scoring headers. It just goes to show what he can do.”
When asked to play in the first team, McConnell has transitioned into a role as a number six, breaking up play in front of the defence and distributing the ball accurately to his teammates.
That is the exact type of player Warne needs in his midfield, with the 51-year-old crying out for an enforcer to keep them ticking over.
James McConnell can become the latest Liverpool loan success
Liverpool are building up a reputation for sending out their talented youngsters to Championship clubs.
Tyler Morton and Fabio Carvalho both flourished on loan at Hull City last term as the Tigers narrowly missed out on the play-offs. Morton showcased his talent as a deep-lying maker that has since seen him attract European and Premier League interest while Carvalho bagged nine goals from January onwards.
McConnell will want to replicate his teammate’s success by starring on loan in the second-tier and Derby would be the best place to go for his development.
The “amazing” midfield gem – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – would be guaranteed a regular starting spot in the engine room as Warne currently has just Tyrese Fornah, Liam Thompson and Darren Robinson as options in that area.
Indeed, capturing McConnell on loan could see Derby build an even bigger rapport with Liverpool and use that connection to sign other talented youngsters in the future.
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