Birmingham City and Wrexham AFC join transfer race for Liverpool forward | OneFootball

A host of Championship clubs are understood to be interested in taking on the Liverpool starlet Lewis Koumas, who spent 2024-25 on loan at Stoke.

Norwich City, Sheffield United, Hull City, Preston North End, Oxford United and newly-promoted duo Birmingham City and Wrexham are in the chase for the talented Liverpool starlet Lewis Koumas.

With less than a week to go until the start of the new Championship season, there are still a number of clubs carrying out work on their first-team squads. And with one way of bringing in talented players for relatively little financial outlay being to bring in loanees from top Premier League clubs, their interest will always be piqued by news that talented young players could be available to them.

Premier League clubs have increasingly used smaller clubs as testing grounds for their younger players in recent years, to build up their experience and see if they're going to be ready for the top level of the game in this country. And now a host of Championship clubs, including Birmingham City, Wrexham and Sheffield United have been alerted to the potential availability of one such player.

Birmingham City and Wrexham AFC join Liverpool, Lewis Koumas transfer race

The Liverpool Echo reports that a number of Championship clubs have been alerted to the availability of the young Liverpool winger Lewis Koumas, who spent last season on loan at Stoke City and who could be available as a loan or permanent signing for the new season.

Norwich City, Sheffield United, Hull City, Preston North End, Oxford United, Birmingham City and Wrexham - almost a third of the entire division - are already understood to have expressed an interest in taking on the player for the new season.

Koumas impressed in fits and starts at The Bet365 Stadium last season, but his undoubted talent will pique the interest of Championship clubs who believe that they can benefit from refining him as a player.

Lewis Koumas is an unpolished diamond, but his potential will attract Championship clubs

Although Stoke City didn't enjoy a particularly successful 2024-25 season in the Championship, Lewis Koumas made definite progress as a regular starter in their first team.

He made 49 League appearances for the Potters in all competitions and scored six goals, and also continued his international career with the Wales national team, after having made his debut for them in a goalless draw with Gibraltar at the start of June 2024. He's now made six appearances for his national team.

Koumas made his Liverpool debut in January 2024 against Southampton in the FA Cup and scored, but this remains his only appearance for the Premier League club outside the EFL Trophy. Although he remains something of an unpolished diamond, he has demonstrated that he has a tonne of potential at Stoke, if only that question of consistency can be addressed.

A permanent move away from Anfield would be more expensive than a loan, and the fact that he could be available for either will only swell the number of clubs interested in taking him on. With seven clubs already named as potential destinations for him, there'll be quite a scramble to acquire his services for the new season.