‘Maybe’ — Liverpool's Arne Slot leaves door open on Caoimhin Kelleher exit

ON THE MOVE? Caoimhin Kelleher is again subject of bids from Nottingham Forest, with an improved offer for the Liverpool goalkeeper expected ahead of Friday’s 11pm deadline. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Caoimhin Kelleher is again subject of bids from Nottingham Forest, with an improved offer for the Liverpool goalkeeper expected ahead of Friday’s 11pm deadline.

The Corkman had spoken at the end of May of his intention to become No 1 this season, be it at Liverpool as Alisson’s successor or elsewhere, but the Reds have yet to receive a suitable offer.

Forest had a €15m bid knocked back in the final hours of last January’s transfer window and again came calling with a more creative proposal on Thursday.

According to The Athletic, they were willing to send American stopper Matt Turner in the opposite direction but the swap plus cash package didn’t meet the Merseyside club’s €30m valuation. Another offer is said be imminent.

Liverpool signed Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia on Tuesday in a deal that will see him stay at the Spanish team for the remainder of the season.

Vítězslav Jaroš, who spent 2021 on loan at St Patrick’s Athletic, is another stopper to have moved up the pecking order this yea At this stage new Reds boss Arne Slot seems reluctant to part with a goalkeeper who’s proven his ability to step in whenever their first-choice Brazilian isn’t available.

Still, he didn’t rule out Kelleher departing when questioned.

“Maybe, but we have to make decisions as well. It’s not only the player,” he told reporters on Friday ahead of Sunday’s visit to Manchester United.

“If you work at a club like Liverpool you need competition and we need a lot of good players.

“Mamardashvili is someone for the long future of the club, and I’m really, really happy with the goalkeepers we have at the moment.

“Caoimh is one of them, like Vit [Jaros] and Ali. We’re in a good place when it comes to goalkeepers for now and for the long term.” Kelleher indicated his spell as understudy was over.

“I’m at that stage in my career where I need to make that next step and play week in, week out,” he said while on Ireland duty in the summer.

“Wanting to be No 1 is really a reflection on the season and ambitions.” He’ll retain his place between the sticks for Ireland’s upcoming Nations League games against England and Greece due to similar inactivity besetting his rivals but, turning 26 in November, it was felt the supremely talented shot-stopper would have by now cemented a fresh challenge away from Alisson’s shadow.