Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool to Celtic transfer addressed as Hoops now warned of ‘big issue’

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Celtic have now been handed a reality check amid their supposed interest in Liverpool backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

The Hoops were first mentioned alongside Kelleher in a September report which stated the club had made a transfer enquiry to Liverpool concerning the stopper in the summer.

Celtic are on the lookout for a long-term replacement for veteran No1 Joe Hart, whose contract expires this year. Brendan Rodgers has said himself it is an area that will be evaluated after the 2023/24 campaign.

Kelleher is 25 and is thought to be keen on progressing his career elsewhere, potentially at Celtic under former Liverpool boss Rodgers.

But as is the case with Premier League players, trying to strike a deal financially will be costly. The Republic of Ireland international could command a fee between £15-20m and splurging that on one player would not be within Celtic’s recruitment policy.

Moreover, according to Salary Sport, Kelleher earns a weekly wage of £32k and is contracted until 2026 so the Hoops are more than likely to be priced out of both a potential permanent and loan deal.

And that is the point former Liverpool and Celtic star Gary Gillespie has been making to the Glasgow Times.

He says that while a move for Kelleher to Glasgow would be fantastic for him and for the Treble holders, the money involved presents a ‘big issue’ for Celtic.

Caoimhin Kelleher to Celtic discussed

Gary Gillespie said of Caoimhin Kelleher: “That’s always the big issue as well, isn’t it? There will be other clubs down here looking at him with deep pockets, and there are wages to consider as well.

“He won’t be on a pittance, even as a number two goalkeeper at Liverpool, and he will be able to command a really good salary. Liverpool, I am sure, will not want to lose him, so that will be why they are putting such a price on his head. I don’t think he will come cheap. I would be surprised if they can get him even for £15m.

“From what I’ve seen of him, he could be a number one at more than a few clubs in the English Premier League, and given how much of a global business football is now I am sure there will also be clubs from abroad looking at him.

“If you’ve got the talent that he has and you are coming from a big club like Liverpool as well, then you can almost go anywhere in the world. So, he will have choices to make, and I’m sure him, his agent and his family will thrash it all out.

“My heart is saying he should go to Celtic, but the head is saying that might turn out a little bit different! We’ll see which comes out on top.

“He’s in a very difficult situation. If he wants to further his career, you’d have to think that he has to move elsewhere. He would certainly benefit though from playing on a regular basis, and what better club to go to than Celtic? Especially if you want to be playing for the Republic of Ireland as well.

“Any time he comes into the side, people down here are always talking about how good he is and the fact that he has never let Liverpool down, and the feeling is that he is too good to be a number two goalkeeper.

“I think he’s got to look at it and weigh it all up. He would be playing for a fantastic football club in Celtic, and who are obviously going to be up there challenging for things on a regular basis. I am sure he will be a Celtic supporter as well, which always helps, so I think it could be a good move for him.”