With just a couple of weeks of the season remaining, Liverpool are starting to see summer transfer rumours appear.
The Reds are set for some considerable change over the coming months, as Arne Slot takes the reigns from Jurgen Klopp.
As well as a change in manager, Liverpool could also see a fair bit of turnover in the squad. Mohamed Salah now seems likely to stay, but other players – such as Wataru Endo – may be on the chopping block.
One who could potentially leave is Caoimhin Kelleher. The back-up goalkeeper has had a fantastic season filling in during Alisson Becker’s injury worries. This has led to suggestions that he may seek out a No.1 role elsewhere.
Should Kelleher go, Liverpool will obviously need to replace him. And speaking to Rousing The Kop, journalist Graeme Bailey has run the rule over one of the potential options.
Liverpool unlikely to pay James Trafford asking price
Searching for a back-up goalkeeper is not an easy job. It can be tough to find a player of sufficient quality who is happy playing second-fiddle.
Kelleher has been a perfect No.2 for Klopp. Having come through the academy he didn’t cost Liverpool a penny and has grown into the role.
If they were to sell him, Liverpool would be looking for decent money. There have been claims that the Reds would be looking for as much as £20m. After the form he’s shown this season, that would seem fair.
With that in the bank, Liverpool would surely be looking for a cheaper option as their new back-up. As a result, Bailey says it’s currently unlikely that the Reds would move to sign England goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley.
“As we know they ideally want a young British keeper to be their new number two, if Kelleher does move,” says the journalist.
“Trafford has done OK, but he has a price tag probably in excess of £20m, so hard to see. No doubt they will have looked but personally I don’t see them paying that sort of money, but Burnley might be willing sellers once they go down.”
Is James Trafford worth the money
As Bailey points out, Liverpool appear to want a young British goalkeeper should Kelleher leave. This would help to fill their home-grown quota.
That’s why links to Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson makes sense and Trafford would fall into that category, too.
At just 21, the former Man City youngster clearly has a very bright future. With plenty of Premier League experience under his belt, as well a call-up to the senior England national team, Trafford is a potential star in the making.
However, the price-tag does seem a little steep in terms of a No.2. Although he’s had plenty of positives this season, Trafford has shown that he is still a little way from being the finished article.
As a back-up to Alisson at Liverpool, the youngster could learn away from the glare of playing week-in-week-out. The Reds will need someone to take the mantle from their Brazilian superstar one day, and if they think Trafford could be that man, then he’s worth the gamble.
