'A joy': What former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said about reported West Brom target
West Brom have been linked with a potential new signing - with highly rated Liverpool youngster James McConnell reportedly on their radar.
The central midfielder McConnell is well thought of by boss Arne Slot and the decision-makers at Anfield and is reportedly poised to sign a new long-term contract.
Ryan Mason's Baggies, as well as league rivals Ipswich Town and Derby County, have been credited with interest in the England under-20 man.
North-east born McConnell, who moved from the Sunderland academy in 2019, made his Reds senior debut in October 2023 and has made 14 first-team appearances in all competitions, including from the bench in the 2024 EFL Cup final victory.
McConnell is relatively unknown having only played a handful of games for the Reds - but he has been in and around the Liverpool first team set up for some time.
And he received big praise from a former Liverpool boss on one of their summer pre-season tours.
McConnell was introduced to the first team fold at Anfield by former boss Jurgen Klopp - and he featured for some of clubs sides in pre-season.
On one tour to the US, McConnell featured in a 4-0 win over Leicester City - and received high praise from the ex-Reds chief.
At the time, Klopp said: "And the boy James on the No 6 is just a joy to watch. He had never played the position before but he throws his heart on to the pitch."
The link to McConnell comes after Albion sporting director Andrew Nestor said earlier this month that Albion were in the market for replacements for attacking players.
It came after they let Grady Diangana and John Swift got at the end of the season.
