Good news as electric No9 is coming to Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool will be heading into the 2026/27 season with problems at centre-forward.

Alexander Isak was the big-money signing last season - arriving on a British record deal from Newcastle. But the £125m man has had troubles settling into life at Anfield - scoring four goals across an injury-ravaged first season.

Given the 26-year-old’s previous fitness record - and upcoming summer of activity at the FIFA World Cup - it would be a mistake to predict that the Sweden international will be available all season.

And he’s got no senior back-up either.

Hugo Ekitike, 23, came in for £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt. The France international has been an immediate hit in his rookie season - scoring 17 times - but he too has been struck down by injury.

Ekitike isn’t expected to play again until perhaps 2027 owing to a damaging achilles injury. And that means Richard Hughes and likely new coach Andoni Iraola are short of options at centre-forward.

'Electric' Koumas plays at No9 for Wales

But one choice they could make is to blood a youngster from the academy. And in the eyes of Craig Bellamy - the Wales head coach - Liverpool have on their books a Wales No9 of the future.

Lewis Koumas, 20, spent last season out on loan - first at Birmingham before joining Hull City for the second half of their promotion campaign from the Championship to the Premier League.

The versatile attacker scored his first international goal on Tuesday night as Bellamy’s side secured a hard-fought draw against World Cup-bound Ghana in Cardiff.

And given the options the former Liverpool striker has at his disposal on the wings - including Sorba Thomas, Dan James and Brennan Johnson, Bellamy foresees Koumas becoming a centre-forward for his team.

"[He is a] nine because we don't really have any nines coming through and we do have a lot of wingers, brilliant wingers," Bellamy told BBC Sport.

"He could definitely be a huge asset for us on the wing but, due to our lack of nines coming through the system, we've used him a lot in training that way and he's really been electric.

"There's a lot to like about Koomy. He's such a young player and I'm over the moon he got his goal because he's deserved it."

Koumas could be an option for Iraola

Koumas netted three strikes for Hull as they achieved an unlikely promotion and will return to the AXA Training Centre with his future up in the air.

"We started him [as a centre-forward] against Northern Ireland [friendly draw in March], I thought he was OK," Bellamy said.

"When he came on today, he needs to be a little bit tidier but that's normal.

"I see him as a real future player for Wales who's going to have a big say. I'm delighted for him."

He has already played - and scored - for the Liverpool first team and has even sat on the bench for a handful of matches under Jurgen Klopp.

Koumas therefore could be ready to provide an option for Iraola if he needs one up top - to give Isak a rest or else legislate for the loss of Ekitike.