‘I want to go’ says Caoimhín Kelleher
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Cork City FC players and supporters celebrate after the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division winover UCD at UCD Bowl in Belfield, Dublin last Friday which secured the First Division title. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile INSET: Republic of Ireland and Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/SportsfileRepublic of Ireland and Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher has confirmed lingering rumours that he wants to leave Liverpool in order to play first team football.
Earlier this year, the talented Cork shot stopper hinted that a move away from English Premier League side Liverpool may well be his only realistic means to secure a regular first team spot.
In June, the 25 year old former Ringmahon Rangers AFC keeper said he was “not silly” regarding his future.
Kelleher, who he joined Liverpool in 2015 as one of Jürgen Klopp’s first signings, has spent the majority of his time at Anfield playing second fiddle to highly rated Brazilian keeper Allison Becker.
However, an exception to this came in the form of a 14 game unbroken run last season while Allison was injured.
With Jürgen Klopp now “retired”, and new Liverpool manager Arne Slot's recent signing, Giorgi Mamardashvili, likely to become Allison’s backup between the sticks next season, it is now expected that Kelleher will actively be looking for a new club.
Despite some links with Scottish giants Celtic, it is understood that Kelleher would favour a move to another English Premier League team. Liverpool are reported to be looking for something close to a €29 million transfer fee for the Cork man.
It was also reported that Premier League side Nottingham Forest had a number of offers rejected for Kelleher in January and this summer due to the amounts not meeting Liverpool’s valuation of the player.
Speaking to the media ahead of Ireland's UEFA Nations League clash with Greece on Tuesday, Kelleher said: “I think I've made it clear in the last few years that I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out.
“The club’s made that decision to get another goalkeeper in as well which from the outside looking in looks like they’ve made a decision to go a different direction, but my ambition has always been clear,” he added.
Cork City FC
In other Cork-related footballing news, Cork City FC have secured a triumphant return to Ireland’s top tier of football, currently 19 points clear at the top of the League of Ireland First Division.
City’s promotion was secured with a 0-1 away victory over UCD on Friday.
News followed shortly after of the signing of a new two-year deal by manager Tim Clancy.
“When I came in at the tail end of last year, the target was to get this club straight back to where it belongs and we are within touching distance of achieving that,” said Clancy.