Two Liverpool defenders relegated to training with the Under-21s are set to leave the club this summer, according to a report.
New head coach Arne Slot has inherited a rearguard with a few question marks, as captain Virgil van Dijk has now entered the last 12 months of his terms, while Joel Matip left on a free at the start of June.
Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah battled to partner Van Dijk last season, but the former has had his fair share of injuries since arriving at Anfield, allowing Quansah to end the 2023-24 season in Jurgen Klopp's good books.
Konate and Quansah are expected to play key roles in Slot's debut campaign, while Van Dijk is not likely to leave in the current transfer window, but his contract situation is a priority for new sporting director Richard Hughes.
Due to Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah all being in the last year of their deals, bringing in new players is not high on Liverpool's priority list, despite rumours of a new centre-back arriving.
Rhys Williams, Billy Koumetio 'relegated' to Under-21s training
© Reuters
Instead, the Merseyside giants could willingly deplete their academy ranks further, and according to the Liverpool Echo, both Rhys Williams and Billy Koumetio are candidates for the chop.
The report states that both men have been training with the Under-21s instead of the seniors since Slot took over, and neither man is in the Dutchman's plans for the 2024-25 campaign.
Both Williams and Koumetio were omitted from Liverpool's 28-man squad for their pre-season tour of the USA, further suggesting that their careers on Merseyside are dead in the water.
The former earned Klopp's trust during Liverpool's 2020-21 defensive crisis, where he and Nat Phillips - who is in the Reds' tour squad - stepped up to the plate while Van Dijk, Matip and Joe Gomez were injured.
Williams turned out 19 times in all tournaments for the Reds that season, including seven Premier League starts and three in the Champions League, but his career has been on a downward spiral since.
© Reuters
While enjoying moderate success at Blackpool, Williams has endured failed loan spells at Swansea City, Aberdeen and Port Vale, whom he left after just two weeks without making a single appearance due to injury.
Meanwhile, Koumetio - who joined Liverpool from French outfit US Orleans midway through the 2018-19 campaign - has played just twice for the Reds, once in the 2020-21 Champions League and again in the 2021-22 EFL Cup.
Where could Williams, Koumetio go after leaving Liverpool?
France Under-20 international Koumetio is said to be attracting interest from Scottish Premiership side Dundee United, who could sign him for a cut-price fee given that he is in the last year of his contract.
Jim Goodwin's men are said to be just one of a few clubs keeping tabs on Koumetio, while Williams - now in the last two years of agreement - has suitors from abroad.
Ben Knapton
