Home Football Liverpool has made a decision regarding Caoimhin Kelleher. Which player is capable enough to replace them?

Liverpool has made a decision regarding Caoimhin Kelleher. Which player is capable enough to replace them?

Football — 04/16/2024

Liverpool’s leadership may agree to sell Caoimhin Kelleher in the summer of 2024, as the 25-year-old goalkeeper from the Republic of Ireland is attracting special interest from Nottingham Forest and Celtic.

Liverpool: 'Caoimhin Kelleher was reassuringly solid' - BBC Sport

Kelleher joined Liverpool’s youth academy in 2015 at the age of 17 and has been a member of the first team, The Kop, since 2019. However, the 25-year-old goalkeeper has mostly served as a backup. As of the 2023/24 season, he has only made 5 appearances in the Premier League.

In the current season, Kelleher has shown good form, playing in 26 matches across all competitions (10 in the Premier League) and has visibly improved while filling in for the injured Alisson Becker, the Brazilian goalkeeper. According to the Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest approached the Merseyside Reds to recruit the Irish goalkeeper during the last winter transfer window but ultimately withdrew due to the high asking price. It is understood that The Kop is willing to release Kelleher for £25 million.

Currently, Nottingham Forest is ready to revisit this deal and will make a new offer in the summer of 2024. However, they may face stiff competition from Celtic, who are also very interested in securing the signature of this promising 25-year-old goalkeeper.

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Also according to the Daily Mail, Liverpool may find it difficult to keep Kelleher at Anfield next season if he wishes to leave the club to seek more playing time. If Kelleher departs Anfield before the 2024/25 season, The Kop’s leadership will have to find a replacement for him. It is understood that Liverpool’s recruitment manager is interested in signing a contract with Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Currently, Jurgen Klopp’s team has lost the top spot to Manchester City after a defeat to Crystal Palace in the 33rd round of the 2023/24 Premier League season, even slipping to third place in the title race, behind both Arsenal and City. This week, The Kop will visit Atalanta for the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals. Having lost 0-3 in the first leg, it will be a challenging match ahead for Kelleher and his teammates.