Celtic may have seen their chances of landing a Premier League goalkeeper dashed due to the asking price involved.
Celtic are about to miss out on another goalkeeping target after being given an asking price that they would be unable to fulfill. Liverpool and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been linked with a transfer to Parkhead in recent months, with Brendan Rodgers looking for a new goalkeeper.
Joe Hart has retired following a spectacular career with the Hoops, and Celtic have been aware of this decision for some time. However, this hasn’t made it any easier for Rodgers and his recruiting team to find a successor, as competition remains fierce as ever.
Kelleher has been linked with Celtic over recent months, with no sign of a starting role at Anfield due to the presence of Alisson Becker. But The Daily Mail have now reported that Liverpool want as much as £35million to sell their second choice goalkeeper, effectively ending the Hoops’ chances of signing the Ireland international.
Speaking earlier this summer about Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp’s departure, and his future, Kelleher stated: “He (Klopp) had some lovely comments for me. I worked with him for several years, and he stated, ‘You became a terrific goalie during that period.’ He will follow my profession wherever I go. He wants to watch me play and be pleased.
“The season I’ve had, I’ve played a lot of games and had that taste this season of being a number one. Whether that’s at Liverpool or elsewhere, that remains to be seen. My main focus at the moment is to be number one. Obviously I love playing for Ireland. A big ambition of mine is to be the number one here – obviously that only comes hand in hand when I’m number one at the club as well. That plays a major part as well, in terms of helping my case to be Ireland number one.”
He added: “Obviously I don’t know what is happening yet with Liverpool, but I am open to all options. Obviously if I do move everything has to be right. It has to be right for myself, and that could be in England or abroad. I have to make the right decision and it has to be a good fit for myself most importantly.”