Caoimhin Kelleher Next Club Odds: Brighton Lead Celtic In Race For Reds Keeper
Caoimhin Kelleher could leave Liverpool in the summer and betting sites have already been considering potential new destinations for the goalkeeper.
The Republic of Ireland international recently told The Athletic that he wants to be the number one choice at a club, but with Alisson standing in his way, the prospect of being the main man at Anfield is looking as remote as ever.
Kelleher made 26 appearances for the Reds in all competitions during the 2023-24 season, including the Carabao Cup final in which he kept Chelsea at bay with a string of superb saves before Virgil van Dijk sealed victory for an under-strength side with a glancing header in extra time.
After nine years at Anfield, it could be time for Kelleher to move on, but who are the clubs lining up for his signature?
We’ve combed the clubs possibly looking for a new goalkeeper and assessed the odds on a switch during the summer transfer window.
Seagulls May Swoop For Reds Shot-Stopper
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi rotated goalkeepers Jason Steele and Bart Verbruggen throughout the season, but now that the Italian has ended his spell on the south coast, could the new man at the helm want someone else between the sticks on a permanent basis?
Steele will turn 34 in August, so is entering the twilight of his career, while 21-year-old Verbruggen has started to establish himself as the first-choice Netherlands goalkeeper.
The Seagulls were linked with a move for Kelleher at the start of the season and again in January, but a deal never materialised.
With the news Kelleher is open to a move, Brighton have jumped to the front of the queue and are 6/4 with new betting sites to bring him to the Amex Stadium at the risk of upsetting Steele and the talented Verbruggen.
* To be in with a chance of winning a fabulous trip to Las Vegas, along with £2,000 spending money, enter our competition below. T&Cs apply.
Hoops Eye Hart Replacement
Celtic will almost certainly be looking for a new goalkeeper following Joe Hart’s decision to retire.
The former Manchester City goalkeeper went out on a high as the Hoops won the league and cup double in Scotland, but the Glasgow giants will need to find a replacement.
Hart’s understudy Scott Bain has made just eight appearances in the last three years and is no spring chicken at 32, so it would make sense for Celtic to renew their interest in Kelleher, who would be a popular signing with the Parkhead faithful.
Celtic were one of the leading clubs in the hunt for Kelleher in January and are 7/4 second favourites with betting apps to bring him to Celtic Park.
However, it remains to be seen whether Kelleher would prefer to stay in England, also bearing in mind Celtic could struggle to compete with the money available to Premier League clubs.
Forest And Cherries Potential Destinations
Matt Turner’s move to Nottingham Forest turned sour on the back of a string of errors which saw him dropped and replaced by Matz Sels.
Sels was recently named in Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad, so things are going well for the former Strasbourg and Newcastle keeper, but could Kelleher head to the City Ground as their number one from next season?
Forest are 5/2 with football betting sites to sign Kelleher, closely followed by Bournemouth, who already have an Irish goalkeeper on their books.
Mark Travers replaced regular goalkeeper Neto for the final five games of the season, keeping clean sheets in his first two, but conceding seven times in defeats to Arsenal, Brentford and Chelsea.
It’s possible Andoni Iraola could be looking for a new goalkeeper before the new campaign gets under way in August, with the Cherries priced at 3/1 to sign Kelleher.
Wolves And Tractor Boys In The Running
Of all the clubs linked with the Reds star, Wolves seem the best option at 4/1.
Portugal keeper Jose Sa is reportedly open to leaving Molineux in the summer despite signing a new four-year contract in September.
Sa’s agent Jorge Mendes is thought to be sounding out interest in his client from Europe and Saudi Arabia, so Wolves boss Gary O’Neil could have a problem on his hands.
The wheels are already in motion for his replacement should he leave, with Wolves prepared to match the asking price of around £20million for Kelleher which would probably rule Celtic out of the equation.
Vaclav Hladky was Ipswich’s regular goalkeeper in their promotion-winning season, but could Kieran McKenna want more Premier League experience ahead of their return to the top flight?
Kelleher would obviously want assurances that he would be the number one were he to move to Portman Road, so McKenna would risk alienating the Czech should he bring in the 25-year-old Cork-born keeper.
Bees And Foxes Dark Horses
Mark Flekken played in the majority of Brentford’s Premier League games during the 2023-24 campaign.
The Dutchman joined the Bees for £11m last summer as a replacement for Arsenal-bound David Raya and despite a shaky start to the season, made the number one shirt his own.
Manager Thomas Frank claimed in April that Flekken was playing at a “very high level” in front of a backline that lacked “stability”, so it would not appear that the Dane is in the market for a new goalkeeper.
Brentford are 7/1 to bring Kelleher to west London, while newly-promoted Leicester are 10/1.
The Foxes need to find a new manager before they can think about goalkeepers following Enzo Maresca’s high-profile move to Chelsea.
Maresca was singing the praises of City keeper Mads Hermansen in a recent interview with The Athletic, so could the Dane be on his way to Stamford Bridge?
Times writer Henry Winter described Hermansen as “the best goalkeeper outside the Premier League”, so a move to a bigger club could be on the cards which would open the door for Kelleher.
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.
