Wrexham and Birmingham are leading the race to sign Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas, who is set to leave Anfield before the transfer deadline next week
Lewis Koumas of Liverpool celebrates with team mates after scoring
Birmingham and Wrexham are fighting it out for young Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas (centre)
(Image: Danehouse/Getty)
Birmingham City and Wrexham are set to go head-to-head in a transfer tussle for Liverpool starlet Lewis Koumas.
The Championship rivals are leading the pack of potential suitors for the 19-year-old Welsh international. Koumas has become a sought-after player following his successful loan spell at Stoke City last season.
Sheffield United have kept a close eye on the player throughout the year, with Norwich City, Preston North End and Hull City also keeping tabs on the situation. However, it's Birmingham and Wrexham that are spearheading the chase for Koumas.
Both clubs are reportedly ready to offer him a permanent deal after he netted his first senior goal for Liverpool in an FA Cup victory over Southampton in February last year. Koumas, who was a substitute in the Reds' League Cup final win over Chelsea in 2023/24, has made 50 senior appearances and has also earned six full Wales caps.
The current Premier League champions see the forward as being further along in his development than Bobby Clark was when he departed Anfield for RB Salzburg in a £10million deal last year. With 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha having emerged from the club's academy over the past nine months, Koumas's first-team chances were restricted.
During pre-season, he only made a second-half outing at Preston and a fleeting substitute appearance in the opening friendly against Athletic Bilbao. Koumas is expected to leave before the transfer window closes on September 1 and was conspicuously missing as Liverpool's under-21s suffered defeat at Leicester City in Premier League 2 on Monday.
Lewis Koumas of Liverpool
Birmingham might be able to sign Liverpool's Lewis Koumas on a permanent deal
Birmingham have been linked with several players this week following their positive start to life back in the Championship. The Blues started their campaign with a 1-1 draw at home against Ipswich Town followed by a 2-1 win at Blackburn Rovers.
Former Arsenal and Liverpool attacker Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is one of the names being mentioned in reports. Oxlade-Chamberlain has spent the last two seasons with Turkish side Besiktas, but is expected to return to England this summer.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has also been linked with a move to St. Andrew's. The Serbian currently plays in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal, but a swoop for the Serbian by the Blues is understood to be unlikely.
Meanwhile, Birmingham manager Chris Davies has confirmed he may have to dip into the transfer market after left-back Alex Cochrane picked up an injury against Blackburn.
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"He's got a slight knock," Davies said. "He's just felt something there which is unusual because Alex has been an ever present. But he's played a lot of football, so we'll have to see how he is tomorrow.
"We are looking in that position. We do need two left backs so definitely cover and competition for Alex. That won't change it too much just by nature we've only got two weeks to go, so it's something we've been looking at doing.
“Nothing's imminent in the next day or so from my understanding, but there's definite work to do, no doubt we need the depth. We need a few more players just to give us what we need depth wise and quality wise for the season ahead."