Sheffield United defender Jack O’Connell says it is his “dream” to play for Liverpool.
O’Connell was born and raised on Merseyside, but was actually signed as a youngster by the Blackburn Rovers academy.
The centre-back later played for Brentford, before joining the Blades in the summer of 2016. O’Connell arrived at the same time as manager Chris Wilder and had a key role in two promotions in three years.
In fact, before getting injured in February the 25-year-old had started 100 consecutive league matches for the South Yorkshire club.
Now O’Connell is getting ready to line up against the Reds in United’s first season in the Premier League in 12 years.
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The former England Under-19 international has signed a new contract to keep him at Bramall Lane until 2023. However, if Liverpool came calling then O’Connell would be off.
“Obviously I’ve just signed a new contract, so I’m happy with Sheffield United,” he told Sky Sports.
“I haven’t thought about leaving or nothing like that. But my dream, and my family’s dream, is to play for Liverpool.
“If they ever come knocking, which is very unlikely, it would be hard to turn down.”
Would Liverpool want Jack O’Connell?
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
While the form of Virgil van Dijk helped earn his team the best defensive record in the division and the Dutchman the PFA player of the year award, finding a partner for him was a struggle.
Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip all played alongside Van Dijk at various points in the campaign. Lovren has also been heavily linked with a move to AC Milan.
Whether or not O’Connell would be ready to make the switch to Anfield having had no top flight experience to date is doubtful. Yet Klopp now knows that the option is there.
