Jurgen Klopp has introduced an entire host of children into the Liverpool first staff since arriving in 2015.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliot and most lately Stefan Bajcetic all making their mark within the senior squad in recent times, Liverpool’s academy is paying off for certain.
May the German be about to unearth the subsequent huge factor with defender Billy Koumetio? With modifications underway forward of subsequent season, the 20-year-old may effectively emerge.
Who’s Billy Koumetio?
The Frenchman arrived at Anfield in 2019 from US Orleans aged simply 16 and his expertise was evident, with journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi praising him as “promising” with the defender named as a future star of the primary staff.
It will not be lengthy earlier than he’ll go down in historical past, with the centre-back turning into the youngest Liverpool participant to function within the Champions League at simply 18 years and 25 days. Certainly, Klopp appeared like he had one other wonderkid within the making.
That day was particular, not least as a result of the “unimaginable” younger expertise – as his supervisor calls him – occurred to be a ball boy the evening of that well-known 4-0 win over Barcelona at Anfield. Clearly, Europe’s most prestigious competitors already has a giant place in Koumetio’s coronary heart.
Klopp signed Ibrahima Konaté in 2021 and the French defender was seen as the best mentor for Koumetio, with the teen ultimately aiming to succeed him within the middle of protection for the Reds within the coming years.
He was loaned out to Austria Vienna this season to expertise first-team soccer at senior degree and after making 5 appearances he was recalled in January. Throughout his quick keep in Austria, he received 60% of his duels, made 3.4 clearances and one deal with per recreation, positively proving that he can carry out at a excessive degree.
The choice to terminate his mortgage early may very well be as a result of Klopp needs to maintain tabs on the participant as he performs for the U21 facet and since January he has featured eight instances within the Premier League 2, scoring as soon as.
Though Konaté is just 23, if he continues his superb kind at Liverpool, there’ll undoubtedly be a bunch of potential suitors lining as much as depart the membership and as a substitute of spending thousands and thousands to switch him, Koumetio may very well be prepared to switch him.
With nothing however European locations to play for by the top of the season, Klopp may quickly give some kids a tough time. The younger French sensation may very well be the way forward for the protection and all he wants is an opportunity to impress.
