"I'm good enough and I want to go play week in, week out" – Liverpool star issues transfer plea after failed Anfield exit
Liverpool star Caoimhin Kelleher has insisted that he is hoping to depart his club to establish himself as a starting goalkeeper elsewhere.
Earlier this summer, Kelleher emerged as a hot topic of transfer discussion after he reportedly revealed his desire to leave his boyhood club. The 25-year-old was said to be a subject of a player-plus-cash bid from Nottingham Forest last month, but the Reds opted to reject the offer.
Ahead of Republic of Ireland's UEFA Nations League encounter against Greece on Tuesday (September 10), Kelleher reiterated his wish to seal a Liverpool exit. The shot-stopper said (h/t X/@DaveOCKOP):
"I made it clear in the last few years that I want to go somewhere and be a number one. The club made that decision to get [Giorgi Mamardashvili] which makes it look like they've made a decision to go another direction. They 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."
Kelleher, whose current contract will expire in June 2026, relished a fine campaign for Liverpool last time around. He registered five shutouts and shipped 32 goals in 26 games in all competitions for his club.
Meanwhile, journalist Graeme Bailey has confirmed that the Irishman was keen to join three Premier League sides earlier this summer. He recently told Rousing The Kop (h/t TEAMtalk):
"There was a lot of goalkeeper movement. Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bournemouth... this might have been his big chance and Kelleher was interested in all of those teams. So, I think he's very frustrated but he's under contract and it is what it is."
Overall, the 15-cap Republic of Ireland international has kept 15 clean sheets and conceded 59 goals in 47 games for the Merseyside outfit.
How good of a summer signing is Liverpool loanee & Valencia's Giorgi Mamardashvili?
Last month, Liverpool finalised a permanent deal to lure Giorgi Mamardashvili from La Liga side Valencia. They allegedly agreed to dish out an initial fee of £25 million and £4 million in potential add-ons for the star.
However, the Reds decided to send the 23-year-old goalkeeper back on a season-long loan to Valencia last month. So far this season, the Georgia international has shipped seven goals in four La Liga games.
Mamardashvili, who is likely to dethrone Alisson Becker as Liverpool's number one, has kept 31 shutouts in 104 overall outings for Valencia.