During Liverpool’s pre-season tour in the USA under Arne Slot, several young players were given the opportunity to showcase their skills, yet some, including Billy Koumetio, were notably absent from the squad. This omission highlights Koumetio’s current position within Liverpool’s setup.
Football Insider reports that Liverpool has notified the 21-year-old defender that he is free to seek a new club before the transfer window closes on August 30. This decision reflects that Koumetio is not part of Slot’s plans moving forward.
Koumetio, who is drawing interest from clubs in Scotland and the English Football League, is anticipated to make a permanent move, particularly given that his contract with Liverpool is set to expire next summer.
The exclusion from the U.S. tour likely made Koumetio acutely aware of his precarious situation at Liverpool. His recent loan stints with Austria Vienna, Dunkerque, and Blackburn, where he managed just 21 appearances, have not significantly strengthened his case for a first-team role.
His only senior appearances for Liverpool were limited to a Champions League match against Midtjylland in December 2020 and a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City the following year. Since then, Jarell Quansah, who is just two months younger than Koumetio, has moved ahead of him in the team’s pecking order.
Liverpool currently has more than the allowed maximum of 25 ‘overage’ players for both domestic and European competitions. Koumetio, who will turn 22 in November but qualifies as a ‘homegrown’ player, is among those exceeding the squad limit. For Slot to bring in new players such as Anthony Gordon, Giorgi Mamardashvili, or Willian Pacho, adjustments must be made. This could involve selling or loaning out existing squad members or potentially excluding some players from the squad entirely.
Given the circumstances, it seems unjust for Koumetio to remain sidelined. A move to another club would be beneficial for his career, offering him the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the potential that once earned him a place in Liverpool’s first team.
