Caoimhin Kelleher’s future is expected to be an issue for Liverpool again this summer, with Celtic and three Premier League clubs among those interested.
Having emerged as a reliable backup for Liverpool in recent years, including 11 appearances in place of Alisson this season, Kelleher has plans to become the number one.
Due to the level of competition at Anfield, with Alisson the best goalkeeper in world football, there is little chance of the Irishman progressing full-time.
That has raised the possibility of a permanent change, which was widely expected to happen last summer only for Jurgen Klopp to block any exit.
This year may be a different story, as Kelleher turned 25 in November and moved into the final two years of his contract at the end of the season.
According to the Mail’s Lewis Steele, Celtic are “one of many clubs” interested in Liverpool’s deputy goalkeeper ahead of the summer transfer window.
Joe Hart, who will turn 37 in April, will see his contract expire at the end of the season, and Kelleher has been tipped as a possible replacement.
Celtic, of course, are not alone in their interest, with Steele noting that “three Premier League clubs have also looked at the goalkeeper this season.”
Those clubs are yet to be named, so two of the teams that explored a deal for Kelleher last summer (Brighton and Brentford) are unlikely to be in the running, having since signed new number ones.
It is argued that leaving Liverpool is “a decision he has not yet made” and the opportunity to develop further in the Anfield first team is certainly attractive.
Also from the club’s perspective, keeping his number 62 would be the ideal scenario, with any sale dependent on the player seeking regular playing time and potential buyers committing a “fair transfer fee”.
But with Kelleher’s contract expiring in 2026, it’s more than likely that a decision will be made one way or another this summer.
Should he leave, Liverpool have been dubiously linked with Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson as Kelleher’s replacement, although Steele succinctly states that “there are doubts over whether the 23-year-old is good enough.”
