“Letting them leave has affected our teams flow so I’m bringing them back sell some of the new signings ” – This is according to Arne Slot as he claims that Liverpool will bring back three players in January following a ‘tough decision’ about the recent signings
Liverpool have a number of loanees who are struggling to make an impact this season.
Letting Harvey Elliott leave was a decision Liverpool only made reluctantly. Arne Slot would have preferred to keep the young midfielder in his squad, but he understood Elliott’s desire to play regularly elsewhere.
Many supporters agreed that Elliott had earned the chance. Despite his long-standing connection to the club, he had mostly been used as a backup, and even during last season’s Premier League title-winning campaign, he did not start a single match.
His standout displays at the Under-21 European Championships—where he won Player of the Tournament and scored in the final against Germany—suggested he was ready for a bigger role. When Aston Villa emerged as his likely destination, it seemed like the ideal move. Villa had just finished sixth and reached the Champions League quarter-finals, and the loan arrangement included a £35 million obligation to buy after 10 appearances.
However, the switch has not gone to plan. Elliott has barely featured under Unai Emery and has been left out of Villa’s matchday squad for several recent fixtures. With just a handful of appearances made, both Liverpool and Villa supporters are now questioning whether the loan will end prematurely in January. Villa may be reluctant to trigger the £35 million clause, while Liverpool could choose to recall him—either to use him themselves or to arrange a more suitable loan.
Elliott’s uncertain situation is not unique. Liverpool will also be closely monitoring the progress of James McConnell and Viteslav Jaros at Ajax.
Both players joined the Dutch side on loan to work again with Johnny Heitinga, who was highly respected during his coaching stint at Anfield. But Ajax dismissed Heitinga amid a poor start to the season, which their technical director described as a “painful decision” due to the lack of progress and consistent dropped points.
Since then, circumstances have changed for the Liverpool pair. Jaros—who made two senior appearances for Liverpool last season—began the campaign as Ajax’s first-choice goalkeeper, starting the opening 11 matches. But he has recently lost his starting spot to veteran Remko Pasveer and has now been on the bench for five straight games.
McConnell has also found minutes hard to come by. Highly regarded by both Slot and former manager Jürgen Klopp, he made a memorable cameo in the 2024 Carabao Cup final. But injuries have hampered his time in Amsterdam, and he has made only seven appearances in total.
Liverpool have not hesitated to cut loan spells short before. Last season, Stefan Bajcetic was recalled from Red Bull Salzburg when Pep Lijnders was dismissed and subsequently sent to Las Palmas. Calvin Ramsay and Kaide Gordon also switched clubs mid-season.
If Elliott, Jaros, and McConnell continue to struggle for opportunities, Liverpool may once again revisit their January plans and consider alternative moves for each player.
