Liverpool could take Birmingham City recall action - Cardiff City, Hull City & Derby County should be on red alert | OneFootball

Lewis Koumas could be on the move again in January after a frustrating loan spell with Blues

With the winter transfer window just a matter of weeks away now, several players' immediate futures are currently in jeopardy as clubs have a plethora of crucial decisions to make in order to help achieve their short-term goals for the remainder of the season.

As the Championship table remains as congested as ever, Birmingham City are one of several clubs vying for a play-off place under the management of Chris Davies, with the West Midlands side currently on the periphery of the top six, months after regaining their second tier status in record-breaking fashion.

Transfer activity at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park has caught strong attention in recent times, with Knighthead Capital Management aiming for the stars. However, such ambition doesn't make every permanent or loan deal a success.

One of 14 summer arrivals in B9 was Liverpool loanee, Lewis Koumas, who previously held brief Championship experience after a mixed loan stint with Stoke City last season.

Yet, four months on from his latest loan switch, the Welsh international has divided opinion amongst supporters, whilst Davies has now admitted that a recall from the Premier League champions cannot be ruled out.

“I always say if you’re not playing, I hope you’re getting as much development as you can in terms of training, meetings and coaching, but they all want the game time so if it comes to a point with Lewis, as an example, where he’s not feeling he’s getting the game time, or Liverpool feel he’s not, or we come to a situation, then we would look at it," he said.

As a result, Football League World have pinpointed three sides who should be on red alert as this transfer scenario may escalate over time.

3 ? ? Cardiff City

The only non-Championship side to feature as a potential destination for the Welsh international are Cardiff City.

Indeed, the Bluebirds are a club with close links to the Koumas family, with his father and iconic EFL attacking midfielder, Jason, featuring 74 times for them across two loan spells, scoring 15 times, and establishing himself as a hero in the Welsh capital.

In the present, though, City are proving themselves to be an extreme hotbed for young talent under former Manchester City Elite Development Squad manager, Brian Barry-Murphy.

Despite having the third tier's second-youngest squad by average age, the Irishman's side have been unfazed by the expectations on their shoulders after relegation, although it is clear that supporters are demanding that a winger with directness and pace is recruited in January, with Ollie Tanner having missed much of the season through injury

When at his best, the nine-time international can certainly offer both attributes, whilst a drop into League One could be beneficial for his long-term development.

It would also keep him firmly on the radar of Wales boss Craig Bellamy, which could be vital ahead of the Red Dragons' potential participation in next summer's FIFA 2026 World Cup in North America.

Prior to his St. Andrew's move, Koumas certainly wasn't without suitors, and one of the clubs also interested in a loan swoop were Hull City.

The Tigers have been one of the Championship's most-entertaining sides to watch, scoring and conceding plenty of goals, whilst Sergej Jakirovic has managed to form a largely successful and fluid attack under the restriction of a two-window transfer fee ban.

Only three loan signings have been made by the East Yorkshire club thus far, meaning there is scope for more, whilst a spot in Jakirovic's 25-man squad could be freed up by the exit of full-back, Brandon Williams.

Able to feature on both sides, Koumas' versatility could be an asset for Hull as they aim for a greater consistency in the coming weeks, whilst gametime could be offered on a much more frequent basis.

1 ? ? Derby County

Similarly, Derby County may also wish to bolster their attacking options in January, particularly with current Southampton loanee, Ben Brereton Diaz not delivering out wide.

Koumas, of course, has struggled for consistency himself, largely due to the fact Demarai Gray and Patrick Roberts have been in fine form on either flank for Blues.

However, their former boss, John Eustace, certainly has a strong track record when it comes to aiding the development of young talents, and Liverpool can certainly attest to that after the 46-year-old took Owen Beck to Blackburn Rovers and now Pride Park, albeit the full-back's own loan is set to be cut short due to a long-term injury.