Wolves currently have an interesting goalkeeper situation to say the least.
The club signed Sam Johnstone towards the end of the summer window, which cast major doubt on the future of Jose Sa.
The agents of Sa had been lining him up for a move to Saudi Arabia. But that didn’t end up materialising for one reason or another.
Johnstone came in, but struggled to live up to expectation, before suffering an injury over the international break.
Sa is now the number one again at Molineux, but there is certainly an odd feel to the situation. Journalist Liam Keen described the Sa and Johnstone competition ‘difficult situation’, and it’s certainly not idea having two number one standard goalkeepers at once.
And it perhaps could have been avoided had Wolves pushed to sign Caoimhin Kelleher, who last night made headlines for Liverpool.
Former Wolves target Caoimhin Kelleher saves Kylian Mbappe penalty
Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher in action during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. a...
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images
It was reported in June that Wolves were looking at Kelleher as a potential replacement for Jose Sa, amid the interest from Saudi Arabia.
He was said to want out as he wanted more game time, having played second fiddle to Alisson. It was then suggested Wolves would have to pay north of £20 million to sign Kelleher.
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In the end, Wolves brought in Johnstone for £10 million and he’s struggled.
But Kelleher has impressed for the Reds this season, deputising for the injured Allison.
He’s made 10 appearances so far, and kept five clean sheets – and one of those clean sheets came last night against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
He made three saves last night, with two of those coming from shots inside the area – and he also had a very big moment when he brilliantly saved Kylian Mbappe’s penalty.
That was the 10th penalty save of his career, including in shoot-outs.
Wolves may have missed a trick not pushing for Kelleher
It’s unclear if Wolves ever got particularly close to signing Kelleher in the summer, but he’s certainly providing himself in a Liverpool shirt right now and his stock will be increasing.
Given all the talk around Sa and him potentially leaving, Wolves were right to be looking at new goalkeepers and some will now be wondering why a stronger push – or any push at all – was not made to sign Kelleher.
The star has kept a clean sheet 50% of the time this season, conceding just seven goals.
According to fbref, he has a save percentage of 73.9%, which is higher than both Sa (58.3%) and Johnstone (65.6%)
Caoimhin Kelleher for Liverpool
Appearances – 57
Clean sheets – 20
Goals conceded
Also also more accurate with his passing. Kelleher has a completion rate of 75.2%, compared to 57.3% for Sa and 66% for Johnstone.
It’s perhaps easy to say now that Wolves should have tried to sign Kelleher. But the Republic of Ireland international has been a great back-up at Anfield for quite a while.
Former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp thought Kelleher was ‘outstanding’, and Wolves have perhaps missed a trick by not moving for him. Even if he would have had to play back-up to Sa, he is only 23 and it wouldn’t have taken him long to be the number one at Molineux.