Jurgen Klopp could lose his trusted backup goalkeeper this summer, as pressure intensifies on Caoimhin Kelleher to leave Anfield.
The Irish shot-stopper, 24, has spent two seasons as Alisson Becker's understudy, impressing on each occasion when Liverpool's No.1 has been rested. But with Alisson still in his prime and feasting on considerably more minutes, Kelleher has been urged to depart in the summer transfer window amid links of a move to either Brighton or Brentford.
That's despite Klopp claiming that he didn't envisage the Republic of Ireland international waving goodbye. "Honestly, I can't see Caoimh leaving," the Reds boss told a press conference, having reportedly agreed to give third-choice goalkeeper Adrian a new one-year contract.
"It must be an extraordinary offer that I start thinking, I have to say. Adrian, if we don't say goodbye [already] what would that mean? That he probably stays, but if there is nothing in the papers then it is not decided yet finally. We will not do it [say goodbye] just in case, but I have a rather good feeling that we [will] keep working together in that position."
Now it's the end of the season for the Reds, Kelleher is off on international duty and Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has revealed that he expects the 24-year-old to indeed be leaving Liverpool. "It looks like he will be on the move this summer," Kenny stated after calling Kelleher up for the June internationals.
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Caoimhin Kelleher has garnered interest from Brighton and Brentford (Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)"It can only benefit him because he needs to play games. He has been starved of games this year and that has been a problem for him."
Indeed Kelleher has been lacking game-time, with a hamstring injury ruling him out of the first two months of the domestic season. Klopp handed him his first Premier League start of the campaign on Sunday, as he conceded four away to bottom-placed Southampton.
Kenny went on to express sympathy for Kelleher, who's been at Anfield since the age of 16 and made lifelong memories with the Reds. "He is very talented, and it is hard to leave Liverpool, such an iconic club," the Ireland boss acknowledged. "It is not easy to move, there is a process you go through at a club like that
Caoimhin Kelleher is aiming to stake his claim at international level (Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Have your say! Should Liverpool sell or keep Caoimhin Kelleher? Join the debate in the comments section.
"The previous season was a success to a degree for him, winning the League Cup and playing in the cup competitions, there were a lot of games. They got knocked out early this year so there wasn't much football for him. I think he is ready to go and play regularly, he certainly needs to play as he is not so young now, he is 24.
"I think it will happen this summer. It is not right normally to talk about a player moving, but at Liverpool, he is behind one of the best goalkeepers in the world. It is not going to get any easier and you can't improve when you aren't playing."
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