Liverpool confirm second decision of the January transfer window

Liverpool have confirmed that Billy Kuometio has returned from his loan spell at Austria Vienna.

The centre-back joined the Austrian Bundesliga outfit in July. In total, Koumetio made 15 appearances in all competitions for the club.

But the Reds have opted to cut the 20-year-old’s spell short.

Sporting director Manuel Ortlechner last week admitted he expected Liverpool to recall Koumetio. He said: “We are in close contact and I have a phone call to Liverpool later because they would like to bring Koumetio back.

“We still think this is an incredibly exciting player. He can have a really exciting career. But Liverpool want to bring him back now, they have the right.

“We still have to clarify everything in the end but 99% of the time Billy Koumetio will no longer play for Austria Wien."

Koumetio has made two first-team appearances for Liverpool, having arrived at the club’s academy in 2018.

Liverpool have so far signed Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for an initial fee of £37 million.