Kostas Tsimikas could make an early return to Liverpool in January, with AS Roma reportedly dissatisfied with their loanee and seeking to free up room for new signings.

Tsimikas failed to secure a permanent move in the summer and was left to join Roma in a straight loan at the end of the transfer window.

With no option to buy agreed the understanding was that the Greek would spend the season in Italy before reassessing his future in the summer.

However,Corriere dello Sport– via RomaPress – now claim that Roma could look to terminate their deals for both Tsimikas and Leon Bailey in January to make space in the squad.

Given there was no fee involved in the loan, nor any option or obligation to sign the left-back, the likelihood is that cancelling mid-season will be fairly straightforward.

Why Liverpool no longer have room for Tsimikas

It will leave Liverpool in a difficult situation in needing to secure another club for their No. 21, with no prospect of him rejoining Arne Slot‘s squad.

There are 17 non-homegrown players currently registered in Liverpool’s Premier League squad and any further addition would require one of those spots to be vacated.

While there is a strong chance of Calvin Ramsaywho was allocated one of those places in September, leaving in January it is highly unlikely a third senior left-back would take his place.

Instead another loan deal – or preferably a sale – would be pursued, though Tsimikas’ struggle at Roma may work to dissuade interested parties.

Italian reporter Mario Corsi has described the 29-year-old as being “exhausted” by the demands of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with Sport Witness relaying his belief the loan will be cancelled as Tsimikas “can’t handle (it).”

He furthered suggestions that the deal could be brought to a premature close, which comes after the Greece international dropped further down the pecking order.

Initially brought in as competition for first-choice left wing-back Angelino, Tsimikas was demoted following a series of shaky performances and high-profile errors, and now finds himself behind natural right-backs Wesley and Devyne Rensch.

Liverpool to assess underperforming loans in January

If Tsimikas does return to Liverpool mid-season he is unlikely to be the only loanee to do so, withJames McConnell‘s stint at Ajax expected to be cut short.

Harvey Elliott‘s stay at Aston Villa will almost certainly be considered but the terms of that deal make the situation less straightforward.

Liverpool effectively shook hands on a sale when they finalised Elliott’s loan to Villa Park, with only 10 appearances required to trigger a £35 million transfer – but he is now frozen out after playing just five times.

Lewis Koumasis also struggling for starts at Birmingham and a mid-season switch could be on the cards.