CHELSEA are plotting a summer raid on Liverpool for their goalie Caoimhin Kelleher, SunSport understand.
The Irishman is set to leave Anfield at the end of the season when the Reds welcome new shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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That signing is likely to see Kelleher, who has been superb between the sticks for Liverpool following the injury to Alisson, fall down to THIRD in the pecking order.
That’s despite him starring in the team in recent weeks.
Kelleher has no interest in sitting on the bench in the future, and the Republic of Ireland international almost left over the summer with Nottingham Forest among the clubs who reportedly lead the way for his services.
Now Chelsea, who are in the market for a top keeper, are tracking the player.
Sources told SunSport that one sticking point is the fact that Liverpool aren’t keen to sell such a good player to a potential title rival.
But if Chelsea match the £35million valuation the club have placed on the player they might be left with little choice.
Chelsea’s pursuit of the player is set to be matched by two Italian giants.
Juventus and Napoli are both monitoring Kelleher but he is believed to prefer the option of staying in the Premier League if a deal can be done.
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That would see Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca ending up with a staggering ELEVEN goalkeepers.
Those would include Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mike Penders, Gabriel Slonina, Luke Campbell, Ted Curd and Teddy Sharman-Lowe.
The West Londoners also have Lucas Bergstrom and Eddie Beach, who are out of contract in June.
Our story comes after Kelleher was given the seal of approval by former Republic of Ireland international Shay Given.
“Caoimhin played 26 games last season and in that time he showed that he has the talent to be a No1 in the Premier League,” Given said.
“But he turns 26 later this month and, if I am brutally honest, he needs to get away from Liverpool if he wants that to happen.
“Kelleher would have been disappointed to hear [manager Arne] Slot state publicly that Alisson will always be his first-choice keeper because everyone wants to go into training every day with the belief that they are fighting for a place in the team.
“Every professional footballer has to have that hope that if they get a place in the team and perform well then they will keep the jersey.
“Caoimhin hasn’t got that. It has been made clear to him that he will always be behind Alisson – and let’s be honest he is up against a guy who is one of the best in the world.
“Caoimhin turns 26 later this month. He’s done his time at Liverpool. That’s no disrespect to a brilliant club but they are now starting to think that they can’t hold Kelleher back for much longer because he is a quality player.
“Maybe Caoimhin has been too nice about it up to now because sometimes you do have to force the issue. That isn’t a nice situation. He has been very loyal to Liverpool and he won’t want to upset the fans.
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“But at the same time, you only have one career, one life and one opportunity to make the most of what you’ve got. Ten years down the road he could be 36 and people are talking about him as being over the hill.”
Given added: “I look at him and think this guy’s the real deal. He proved last season over a long period of time that he is top quality. I’m sure there’s a number of Premier League clubs who are looking at him. He is ripe, fully cooked, and ready to flourish.”
