Liverpool’s academy has undergone a rapid transformation to become one of the most heralded in the country.
The Reds were previously unable to rely on their youth teams to bring through the kind of quality needed to supplement the first-team.
However, with bosses at the academy recognising the need for improvement, Arne Slot knows he can now count on the youngsters coming through if they are needed.
Jurgen Klopp deserves great credit for that, too. The former Liverpool manager was never afraid to give chances to the kids breaking out at Anfield.
With Klopp moving on though, the club are getting used to doing things without him. And that looks like it could mean on of the German’s favourites from the academy being on the chopping block.
Liverpool in talks to sell Billy Koumetio
Klopp gave so many young players their starts for the Reds and it’s one of the reasons why the 57-year-old will go down as one of the best managers in Liverpool history.
It is always a gamble when bringing through teenaged footballers, though. The chances are that most of them won’t make it at the top, top level.
As a result, a success for the academy should simply be nurturing players who are able to go on and have good careers in the game.
It always feels worth a little bit more when those kids have been with the club since their very early years. But there’s also value in plucking a young star from another club and building him into something special.
READ MORE: Who is Billy Koumetio? Liverpool youngster’s age, nationality, position, stats and more
That was exactly what Liverpool tried to do with Billy Koumetio. The centre-back was brought in from French club Orleans in 2018.
From there, he quickly earned a big reputation at Liverpool. Klopp called Koumetio ‘very special‘ during pre-season of 2020, when the defender was just 17.
Now 21, and things are not looking quite as rosy for the defender at Anfield. After three poor loans on the trot – the latest at Blackburn last season where he played just once – French journalist Marc Mechenoua says Liverpool are in talks to let Koumetio go.
“Billy Koumetio, Liverpool’s French defender, has interest from Dundee United in Scotland,” Mechenoua says on X. “Discussions in progress.”
Billy Koumetio misses his chance
Back in 2020, it had looked like Koumetio could be a genuine option for the Liverpool first-team squad.
Klopp certainly thought so, and gave the Frenchman his debut in the Champions League during the defensive crisis of 2020/21.
One further EFL Cup appearance followed, with Koumetio starting against Leicester in December 2022. The former Lyon prospect was subbed off at half-time, though, after a shaky performance.
Despite Klopp’s praise and backing for Koumetio, he never truly looked to have the tools to kick on and do a Jarell Quansah for the Reds.
It’s a shame, because the possibilities were there for him. Hopefully he can get back on track up in Scotland if this goes through.
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