It looks set to be a busy summer of transfer news for Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Reds’ back-up goalie was excellent throughout the season as he stepped up and filled in for the injured Alisson Becker.
Now 25, Kelleher looks ready for a step to full-time first-team football and that is desperately unlikely to come at Liverpool.
As a result, Kelleher is primed to leave before the start of the season. With Celtic pushing to sign the Irishman, there’s every chance a deal will be struck.
In the meantime, Kelleher has been in action with the Ireland national team. Unburdened by a calendar full of Euro 2024 dates, it was the ‘keeper’s last action of a productive year.
Caoimhin Kelleher lets in three against Portugal
Part of Kelleher’s reasoning for leaving Liverpool will no doubt be to further his ambitions as an international goalkeeper.
Although he’s garnered 15 caps since breaking out of the Liverpool academy, Kelleher has mostly been facing a losing battle with Southampton’s Gavin Bazunu for Ireland’s number one shirt.
After playing 26 times for Liverpool in 2023/24 though, that pendulum now appears to have swung in Caoimhin’s favour.
Kelleher earned raved reviews for his performance during Ireland’s win over Hungary last week and he started again for Tuesday’s friendly with Portugal.
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Unfortunately for the Liverpool ‘keeper, the game against Diogo Jota and co didn’t go quite as well. Ireland succumbed to a 3-0 loss, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice past Kelleher.
Despite the result though, the Irish national media were still impressed with the Liverpool star’s display.
The Irish Independent hailed Kelleher as one of the ‘only positives’ on a difficult night for John O’Shea’s team.
Handing him a seven out of ten, they claim that the goalie ‘saved’ Ireland with two stops to keep the score down late on. Kelleher was reportedly ‘left exposed’ for Portugal’s first goal and could ‘do little’ about the two that followed.
Liverpool set Caoimhin Kelleher asking price
While it’s absolutely brilliant to see Caoimhin doing so well for his nation, this does all come with a twinge of regret from a Liverpool point of view.
Kelleher has developed into a really, really good goalkeeper. Unfortunately that ironically means that his days at Anfield are numbered.
It should be remembered that Liverpool do still hold the cards here, though.
Although Kelleher does seemingly want to leave, the Reds have to ensure that they get fair value for him. He is a real asset.
As a result, Liverpool are said to have put a price-tag of at least £25m on Kelleher. Anything lower will, rightfully, be dismissed.
If that is not matched then we’ll happily see Liverpool’s No.2 back in action on Merseyside next season. Somehow though, that feels like a long shot.