Liverpool have confirmed that young centre-back Bily Koumetio has been recalled from a loan spell in Austria.
The 20-year-old joined Austria Vienna last summer, signing up for a season-long stay. But, as per liverpoolfc.com, Koumetio has now returned to the AXA Training Centre early.
Having played 15 times for the senior team this season, the young Frenchman got some decent experience under his belt. But after falling out of favour of late, Liverpool have seen fit to bring him back to base.
There’s no indication yet as to whether a different club will be sought after for Koumetio, or if he’ll stick around.
Liverpool recall Koumetio
This is disappointing, but not unexpected news. Last week, rumblings emerged that Koumetio was due to return to Liverpool.
Judging from the words of Vienna’s sporting director, the decision was pretty much entirely Liverpool’s.
“We are in close contact and I have a phone call with Liverpool later because they would like to bring Koumetio back,” Manuel Ortlechner told Sky Sports Austria on January 3rd.
“We still think he’s an incredibly exciting player. He can have a really exciting career. Liverpool want to bring him back now, they have the right. We still have to clarify everything, but 99 percent Billy Koumetio will no longer play for Austria Wien.”
That would indicate that the Reds weren’t altogether happy with the Frenchman’s playing time in the Austrian capital.
With half a season still to play, January represented a good chance to pull Koumetio out, and get him somewhere more worthwhile. Where that will be remains to be seen.
Some supporters may get the feeling that the youngster is returning as a means of cover in Virgil van Dijk’s absence. But that’s seems pretty much an impossibility.
Instead, providing the right club can be found for Koumetio, he’ll likely be packing his bags once again very soon.
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