Klopp faces fight to keep another Liverpool star as Wolves prepare £20m bid

14 July 2023 , 08:17

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Klopp faces fight to keep another Liverpool star as Wolves prepare £20m bid

Another Liverpool player could be heading for the exit door at Anfield with Wolves targeting keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Kelleher, 24, is highly rated by Jurgen Klopp and was entrusted with being between the sticks for their entire 2021/22 League Cup winning campaign, even scoring his penalty in the shootout in the final with Chelsea. And he's broken into the Ireland international set-up, winning 10 caps.

But the presence of Alisson has limited his appearances for the Reds. Since being added to the senior squad in 2018, he's played in just five Premier League matches, and 21 in all competitions. And now Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui is keen to offer him first team football.

The current No 1 at Molineux is Portuguese player Jose Sa, but he has been the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest with Keylor Navas having left the club and the injured Dean Henderson returning to Manchester United following his loan.

According to the Daily Mail, Kelleher himself wants to play regularly. Liverpool reportedly value the keeper at £20 million, with his current deal with club running until 2026.

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In limited appearances the shot stopper still impressed last season and was the hero of a League Cup penalty shootout win over Derby County. However, Liverpool's failure to make an impact in either domestic cup limited him to just five matches.

Wolves are plotting a move for Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher (Rui Vieira/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

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But the development leaves Klopp with a dilemma, having already lost a host of stars this summer. Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left the club with their contracts having expired, but captain Jordan Henderson being on the verge of a big money move to Saudi Arabia was not in the script.

Nor was the departure of Kelleher, although Klopp has already secured a back-up option to Alisson should Wolves get their man. Spanish keeper Adrian has signed a contract extension that will see him remain with the Reds for the 2023-24 season, having been set to leave for free this summer.

But speaking at the end of last season, Klopp made clear he had no plans to sell Alisson's chief understudy: "I can't see... honestly, I can't see Caoimh leaving. It must be an extraordinary offer that I start thinking, I have to say."

Any potential sale could also free up funds for the German boss as he continues his rebuild. Brighton player Alexis Mac Allister and RB Leipzig star Dominik Szoboszlai have come on board for a combined total of £95 million, and a big bid for Southampton star Romeo Lavia has also been widely touted.

Fraser Watson