Kelleher Link – File under Exciting but Improbable

Kelleher link is exciting one, but his value looks to be well out of Celtic’s reach…

Caoimhin Kelleher during the UEFA Europa League match between Liverpool and Toulouse at Anfield on October 26, 2023. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Caoimhín Kelleher is the latest name to be linked with Celtic as the transfer window rumours intensify. The goalkeeper situation is one we need to be strengthening, that is not in question, but is the Liverpool back up keeper a realistic target?

Kelleher is highly rated despite having only played 32 first games for the Anfield side, with the majority of those appearances coming in the English League Cup. Kelleher has also represented the Republic of Ireland 11 times, so he’s clearly a talented goalkeeper.

The reality though is that he’s under contract at Liverpool until 2026, and will no doubt be on a handsome salary. Doesn’t that make him out of our reach? Liverpool apparently rate him in the £20 million bracket, and we aren’t paying that, not a chance, not even half of that sum. Especially on a back up goalkeeper who’s played under 50 professional games at the age of 25.

So I think we can file this under the ‘Exciting but Improbable’ category in terms of transfer rumours. Don’t get me wrong I’d love to see us go for a keeper with the pedigree of Kelleher. He’s young and he plays for a big club, he’s an international and he has plenty of potential.

But I can’t see it happening, unless it’s on a loan deal. That would be ideal. An 18 month one to let us see what he’s made of, and by the time it’s done it will be another year of his contract ran down, and then maybe we could look at negotiating a much more realistic fee? And you can file that last paragraph under ‘Clutching at Straws’.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy