Celtic have been priced out of a summer swoop for Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Republic of Ireland No1 has been heavily linked with a move to Parkhead over the last 12 months as Celts seek to replace the recently retired Joe Hart. One-club man Kelleher has spent the majority of his career on the bench at Anfield as backup for first-choice Alisson.
But the Irishman was given a rare run of games last season after Brazilian superstar Alisson suffered a serious hamstring injury in mid-February. Kelleher proved an outstanding deputy in his absence as Jurgen Klopp’s men enjoyed an unbeaten Premier League run with the 25-year-old between the sticks.
Despite his impressive displays, Alisson was reinstated towards the end of the campaign as Liverpool’s title dreams fizzled out following a collapse in form. While new Reds boss Arnold Slot will be in no rush to sell the dependable number two, it’s said that Kelleher is keen to play first-team football after racking up just 47 club appearances.
Multiple outlets had suggested that Brendan Rodgers was keen to bring the highly-rated star to Parkhead but the Atheltic reports that Liverpool have slapped a mammoth £25million price tag on their academy graduate’s head – which would completely rule out any possibility of a move to Glasgow.
While Kelleher has been frustrated by his lack of minutes, he is held in the highest regard by his fellow Liverpool teammates, with skipper Virgil van Dijk recently describing him as “world class”. The ex-Celtic star said: “I have always said [Kelleher] is world class and he stepped up today, again. It’s good to see. He’s a good boy, good goalkeeper and that’s what we need at a club like Liverpool.”