Manager confirms Liverpool and Man Utd swoop as transfer deadline approaches

Liverpool brought Lewis Koumas back from his loan spell with Birmingham City earlier this week, with the Wales international expected to head back to the Championship

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic.(Image: Scott Llewellyn/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic says loan moves for Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas and Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer are nearing ahead of Monday's deadline.

Koumas, 20, was recalled by Liverpool from his spell with Championship side Birmingham City. He made a decent number of appearances there, but mainly off the bench.

With Koumas looking for more game time ahead of the World Cup this summer, where he could be involved with Wales, and Birmingham City also bringing in Carlos Vicente, August Priske and Ibrahim Osman to bolster its attack, Liverpool decided to bring him back in order to send him elsewhere.

The most logical place for Koumas is in the Championship as he continues to build on his extensive experience in the division.

Hull has proven in recent years to be very good at developing talents including Tyler Morton, who moved there in the 2023/24 season, and Liam Delap, who did a year on loan at the MKM Stadium in the same campaign.

"I wanted to do it (Koumas) in the summer; he was my first option but unfortunately he chose Birmingham," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

Jarrod Bowen battles for possession with Lewis Koumas during a friendly match between England and Wales at Wembley(Image: (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))

"He has a lot of potential as a young player with a lot of experience in this league for his age — 42 games for Stoke last season and this season with Birmingham."

Collyer, meanwhile, was recalled from West Brom at the start of the month because of a calf injury. Jakirovic still wants to sign him and is prepared to be patient with his return to action.

In terms of incomings, Arne Slot is expecting things to be quiet at the end of the winter window for Liverpool. The Reds will, as ever, only sign a player if it fits their long-term ambitions.

"I think you know the answer," Slot said when he was asked about it during his press conference.

"The answer is if we think we've addressed a player that can help us and we think it's possible, then we would do so.

"But those are conversations that take place not far away from here, by the way, but not in this room."

Liverpool.com says: Koumas has done well in the second tier and he should get more starts at Hull if the move goes through. He has talent and needs to be playing frequently to make the most of it.