Liverpool made the decision at the beginning of the campaign to loan out a number of their young prospects and fringe first-team players, hoping regular football elsewhere would aid their development.
So far, the outcomes of those temporary moves have been varied. Some, such as James McConnell and Owen Beck, have already returned to Merseyside earlier than expected, while uncertainty continues to surround the situations of others, including Harvey Elliott, whose future remains unresolved.
Among those looking to make the most of his loan opportunity during the 2024/25 season is Lewis Koumas.
The 20-year-old attacker spent the previous campaign on loan at Stoke City, where he featured regularly, making close to 50 appearances for the Championship side. That spell was viewed as an important step in his progression, giving him valuable experience at a competitive level.
For the 2025/26 season, Liverpool sanctioned another loan move for Koumas, this time sending him to Birmingham City, a club with clear ambitions.
However, his time there has not been entirely straightforward or consistently positive. While the Wales international has frequently been named in matchday squads, meaningful minutes on the pitch were initially hard to come by, limiting his ability to build momentum.
That situation has begun to change in recent weeks. An injury suffered by Demarai Gray opened the door for Koumas, allowing him to break into Chris Davies’ starting XI.
Since then, the young forward has started to show signs of what he can offer. He netted his first goal of the season in a notable fixture against high-flying Coventry City a few weeks ago, a moment that could prove significant for his confidence.
With Gray expected to be sidelined until the end of January, Koumas now appears set for an extended run in the Birmingham side, giving him a valuable chance to establish himself and demonstrate his qualities. This run of games could be crucial in shaping the next stage of his career.
Despite the recent upturn, Koumas has revealed that discussions have already taken place with Liverpool regarding his situation. Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, he acknowledged that conversations have been held with his parent club, hinting that the possibility of an early recall has been explored.
“We’ve obviously had conversations with Liverpool, but I’m just focusing on working hard and keeping my head down, and we’ll see what happens,” Koumas explained.
If Liverpool do decide to cut short his loan spell, it is considered unlikely that Koumas would remain with the senior squad for the remainder of the season. A more realistic scenario would see him sent out on another loan, potentially to a Championship side or another club where he could enjoy regular playing time during the second half of the campaign.
Koumas is no stranger to first-team football at Anfield. He has already made appearances and found the net for Liverpool’s senior side, earning his breakthrough under Jürgen Klopp.
However, since Arne Slot’s arrival, the young attacker has yet to be given an opportunity to feature, leaving his immediate future open to further development away from the club.
