Exclusive: Derby County backed to beat Ipswich Town to Liverpool transfer | OneFootball

Don Goodman has told FLW his verdict about Derby County's interest in signing James McConnell on loan from Liverpool

Don Goodman has claimed that he rates James McConnell very highly amid speculation over a potential move to Derby County.

It has been reported by Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele that the Rams are in the mix to sign the 20-year-old on loan from Liverpool this summer.

However, they face competition from Championship rivals Ipswich Town and West Brom in the battle for the midfielder’s signature.

McConnell did not feature in the Premier League last season, but has earned a total of 13 appearances in his career for the Reds in all competitions.

Don Goodman makes James McConnell to Derby claim

Goodman believes that Liverpool must rate McConnell very highly if he’s been on the fringe of the first team but not been sent out on loan before now.

He’s interested by the potential change in styles Derby might need to make the midfielder a worthwhile addition, claiming he’s a player he thinks very highly of.

"He hasn’t been sent out on loan by Liverpool yet, and I do think the reason for that is because they rate him so highly that he’s probably been on the periphery of breaking through into the first team squad on a more regular basis,” Goodman exclusively told Football League World.

“So he’s a player that, when I saw come on at Wembley, not last season the season before in the Carabao Cup final when they beat Chelsea, I thought ‘wow, who is this?’

“So bags of potential, would be a great addition to Derby.

“Although, stylistically, is that an indicator that Derby County maybe want to control possession more in midfield? If it is, then I think that would be a good thing.

“But he’s certainly a player that I rate highly.”

Derby will get their Championship season underway with a trip to face Stoke City on 9 August.

McConnell move has potential for Derby

McConnell didn’t quite make the breakthrough into the Liverpool team under Arne Slot that he might have had Jurgen Klopp remained in charge.

However, he still earned some valuable experience in cup competitions, including the Champions League.

But he now needs consistent minutes playing senior football, so a loan to the Championship would make a lot of sense for the upcoming season.

John Eustace has proven himself a good coach for taking younger players and improving them over, so Liverpool could do a lot worse than agreeing to send McConnell to Pride Park for the upcoming campaign.