Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

James McConnell and Owen Beck are set to return to Liverpool with their loan spells cut short when the January window opens.

McConnell joined Ajax on a season-long loan in August but has found himself out of favour at the Dutch outfit since the sacking of John Heitinga as head coach last month.

The 21-year-old midfielder made the last of his seven appearances for Ajax against Galatasaray in the Champions League on November 5. All parties have agreed that a return to Merseyside makes sense.

Liverpool are unlikely to make a decision over whether McConnell is loaned out elsewhere for the second half of the season until later in the January window.

Beck also spent the 2024-25 season on loan in the second tier (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)

Beck joined Derby County on loan in July but hasn’t featured for the Championship club due to injury. Last month the 23-year-old left-back needed surgery on his hamstring after being hurt playing in an under-21s match against Blackburn Rovers.

Beck, who like McConnell signed a new long-term contract at Anfield last summer, will stay at Liverpool for the rest of the season as he continues with his rehab.

Meanwhile, fellow Liverpool academy graduate James Norris, 22, is in discussions about a permanent move to Shelbourne following a successful loan spell with the Irish club in which he won their 2025 Young Player of the Year award.

James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @JamesPearceLFC