Lewis Koumas has returned to Liverpool, cutting short his loan at Birmingham City.placeholder image
Lewis Koumas has returned to Liverpool, cutting short his loan at Birmingham City. | Getty Images
What Birmingham City’s imminent signing of Carlos Vicente means for Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas - as Hull City circle.
Lewis Koumas played his final game for Birmingham City as Liverpool have confirmed the winger has been recalled, bringing his loan to a premature end.
Birmingham World understands Blues had held regular talks with Liverpool over the timing of Koumas' return to his parent club. The break clause in the 20-year-old’s loan was previously set to expire at the beginning of January, however Birmingham struck an agreement with Liverpool to extend that period until the end of the winter transfer window.
Now that Blues have secured the loan signing of Ibrahim Osman from Brighton & Hove Albion and are soon set to welcome another marquee winger signing through the doors at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, Koumas’ services are no longer required.
Birmingham close to £7m transfer
The imminent acquisition of Carlos Vicente from Deportivo Alaves has effectively acted as the final nail in the coffin of Koumas’ loan spell in the West Midlands. A host of reports suggest Birmingham are now close to an agreement with Alaves to sign Vicente for around €8 million (£7m).
Heading into his prime years at 26, Vicente has proven himself as a reliable goal scorer at the top level in Spain. This season alone, the winger has scored 10 goals and contributed three assists in 25 appearances. It was a similar story last term - albeit at a slightly less clinical rate - as Vicente scored five and assisted five in 38 La Liga matches.
Vicente’s arrival means Koumas, who had only started seven Championship games this season, would have fallen further down the pecking order if he were to stay. All involved have agreed that it would be better for the Liverpool hot prospect to head elsewhere.
Where will Koumas go next?
Koumas’ next destination is an important one. Hull City are reportedly interested but the Tigers are not alone, with a host of Championship clubs circling.
Despite only playing 747 minutes of league action for Birmingham across 23 appearances, Koumas remains a top prospect. The nine-time Wales international impressed at Stoke City last season as he scored three and assisted two in 43 Championship games.
Koumas, who scored on his competitive Liverpool debut in an FA Cup fifth-round win over Southampton two seasons ago, will want a guarantee of more regular starts than he had at St Andrew’s. The youngster worked his socks off in his limited minutes for Birmingham and deserves a proper shot wherever he ends up next.
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