Former Liverpool shot-stopper Chris Kirkland predicts Caoimhin Kelleher will part ways with the Merseyside club next summer.
Chris Kirkland feels Caoimhin Kelleher could soon part ways with Liverpool. The 24-year-old has done a decent job in his limited opportunities at the Merseyside club, but he could leave them after the end of the 2023/24 season.
Kelleher joined the Liverpool youth academy back in the summer of 2015. He came up the ranks at the club and made it to their first team in the summer of 2019. Over the years, he has featured in a total of just 26 matches and has kept a clean sheet on ten occasions.
In the ongoing season, he has featured in five matches and is expected to have limited game time throughout the season just like the past few campaigns. Kelleher’s contract with the Merseyside club runs out in the summer of 2026. But Kirkland has predicted that the 24-year-old could part ways with them in the summer of 2024.
The 42-year-old has seen the Ireland international play since his Under-18 days and feels the Liverpool shot-stopper is good enough to be a first-team regular. But, with Alisson Becker expected to continue at the Merseyside club for a few more years, Kelleher is unlikely to have a decent role at the club.
Kirkland said via The RedMen TV, “I know what you’re saying with Caoimhin, I’ve seen him play since the U18s. Caoimhin, I got asked this and I was half surprised he didn’t move in the summer. There was interest in him. I think next summer they have a big, big, not a problem,”
“He’s been that good of a servant and if he said to the club he wants to move on they would do it, that’s the way Liverpool are, they’re fair. I think next summer could be the one. You’re not going to play in front of Ali, if he stays whoever comes in isn’t going to play many games.”
“I’m sure there’s a plan, there always has been a plan, but the club will do right by what Caoimhin wants because he’s been an outstanding, loyal servant to the club. What is he now, 24? You need to be playing at his age. He’ll play 15 games this season, will he be happy with that long-term? Probably not, we’ll see, but I wouldn’t be surprised either way in the summer.”
The Brazil international is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and there is no way the Ireland international will be a regular at Liverpool anytime soon. Kirkland is surprised by the fact that the 24-year-old decided to continue at Liverpool despite knowing that he will only have limited first-team minutes.
While he might not have moved ahead of the ongoing season, the former Liverpool shot-stopper Kirkland won’t be surprised if he saw the Irish international push for a move away from the club. Recent reports have linked him with Celtic. Meanwhile, the 42-year-old believes Liverpool won’t stand in his way if he wants to leave.
The former England international feels Kelleher has been a great servant for the club over the years and if puts forward the request for a move away from the club, the Reds will let him leave. The Irish international is only 24, and he has the potential to be a regular elsewhere as a result, Kirkland has predicted that the Liverpool shot-stopper could soon part ways with the club.
