Caoimhin Kelleher
Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images
After years of serving as Liverpool’s dependable second-choice goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher appears increasingly likely to depart Anfield this summer.
The 26-year-old has made his desire for regular first-team football clear, while Liverpool’s transfer plans have all but confirmed his future lies elsewhere.
Liverpool’s decision to sign Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia for £25 million, with the player set to join in the summer of 2025, has effectively signaled the end of Kelleher’s time at the club.
With Alisson Becker firmly established as the first-choice goalkeeper, Kelleher would find himself pushed further down the pecking order next season.
The Republic of Ireland international has been refreshingly candid about his ambitions. “I made it clear, I want to go be a number one and play week in, week out,” Kelleher told reporters while on international duty earlier this season.
He added pointedly: “The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper. From the outside looking in, it looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction.”
With just 12 months remaining on his current contract and reportedly no intention of signing an extension, Liverpool appear ready to cash in on a player who has developed significantly since joining from Ringmahon Rangers in 2015.
Kelleher won’t be short of options when the transfer window opens. Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked with the goalkeeper in recent months.
But now a report from talkSPORT on Tuesday morning has asserted that it is instead Bournemouth who are front of the queue to secure his coveted signature.
The Reds are reportedly seeking a transfer fee of around £30 million for goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, as Bournemouth prepares to enter the market for a new shot-stopper.
The Cherries are looking to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is set to return to Chelsea after his loan spell ends this summer. Bournemouth have no obligation to make the Spaniard’s move permanent, prompting manager Andoni Iraola to prioritize signing a long-term solution for the position.
As a result, Kelleher has emerged as a key target for Bournemouth, with Iraola reportedly urging the club to act swiftly when the transfer window opens in June.
The south coast side has struggled at times defensively this season, managing just five clean sheets from 22 Premier League matches, and is eager to bring in a reliable goalkeeper who can establish himself as their No. 1.
While Bournemouth appear determined to secure Kelleher’s services, Chelsea and Tottenham are less likely to pursue new goalkeepers at this stage according to the report.
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