The favourites to sign Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool | OneFootball

Caoimhin Kelleher has suggested he will look to leave Liverpool next summer, with the goalkeeper determined to secure regular first-team football.

Kelleher has emerged as one of the best back-up goalkeepers in the Premier League in recent campaigns but he has been unable to dislodge Alisson Becker as number one. Liverpool’s decision to also sign Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will link up with the Reds in 2025, appears to have persuaded Kelleher that his future lies away from Anfield.

“I made it clear in the last few years that I want to go somewhere and be a number one,” Kelleher said at a press conference ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League fixture with Greece this month.

“The club has made that decision to get a goalkeeper (Mamardashvili) which makes it look like they’ve made a decision to go in another direction.

“Liverpool have rejected a few bids as well. It’s not always in my hands to fully make the decision. My ambition is clear. I’m good enough and I want to go and play week in, week out.”

Using odds from betting sites in Ireland, we’ve looked at the frontrunners to sign Republic of Ireland international Caoimhin Kelleher.

The favourites to sign Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool

Chelsea – 9/2

Chelsea’s haphazard spending in recent windows means the Blues are always linked with any (or every) opportunity on the market. The West Londoners continue to splash the cash at an unrivalled rate and have now invested over £1bn on new signings since 2022.

Despite that gargantuan spree, goalkeeper remains an area of concern. Robert Sanchez has struggled to convince since his £25m arrival from Brighton, while Filip Jorgensen remains raw and is yet to be handed a real chance to impress.

Gabriel Slonina, Mike Penders and Lucas Bergström have been added as ones for the future, while Kepa Arrizabalaga remains on the club’s books despite joining Bournemouth on loan. There’s an argument that none of those goalkeepers, currently at least, are better than Kelleher.

Bournemouth – 3/1

Bournemouth are likely to enter the market for a goalkeeper next summer having signed Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea for the 2024/25 campaign.

Mark Travers has failed to convince that he can be the Cherries’ long-term number one and Kelleher, an international teammate of Travers, could be a sensible signing.

Celtic – 5/2

Celtic have been heavily linked with signing Kelleher and the Scottish champions could offer a direct route to silverware and Champions League football.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are targeting a 13th title in 14 seasons in 2024/25 and began their Champions League campaign with an impressive 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava this week.

Celtic invested heavily in the summer with the £26m sale of Matt O’Riley to Brighton providing the funds to bring in the likes of Adam Idah, Arne Engels and Austin Trusty for sizeable fees.

However, a deal for Kelleher would easily eclipse the club’s current transfer record (£11m) and might require another big sale to finance.

Brentford – 2/1

Brentford have been placed as second-favourites to sign Kelleher from Liverpool.

The Bees brought in Mark Flekken from Freiburg last summer and the Dutchman has proven to be a dependable replacement for David Raya, following the latter’s move to Arsenal. However, Kelleher could be a long-term replacement for Flekken, who will turn 32 next summer.

Nottingham Forest – 6/5

Nottingham Forest have had a patchy record with signing goalkeepers since allowing promotion-winning stopper Brice Samba to leave for Lens in 2022.

Several names have come in at the City Ground without success and Forest saw an approach for Kelleher turned down in the summer. Liverpool rejected a cash-plus-player offer which would have seen Forest ‘keeper Matt Turner move in the opposite direction.

Liverpool had no interest in Turner, however, while the package did not come close to meeting the Reds’ valuation of around £25m to £30m.

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