Caoimhin Kelleher doesn’t necessarily need to leave Liverpool on a permanent basis in the near future.
That’s according to former Republic of Ireland ‘keeper Shay Given. Speaking to the Irish Times, Given suggested a plan for the Liverpool back-up goalie that would see him succeed Alisson Becker at Anfield.
“It’s a tricky one for Caoimhin. But whether he should stick or twist, for me I’d have to twist. He’s not 18 or 19, don’t get me wrong he has loads of time ahead of him, but I’m sure he wants to be playing,” began the pundit.
“Klopp really likes him, because where are you going to get a number two as good as him? You just aren’t. But at the same time you just have one life, one career and I’m sure he’s itching to be playing.
“Even if Liverpool were to let him go on loan for a season or two. Alisson is that bit older so it’s not impossible that Caoimhin could go out on loan and eventually be brought back and still have a career at Liverpool. Either way, he’s not a number two, he’s definitely a number one.”
Alisson not going away anytime soon
Ordinarily for a young goalkeeper with big potential, this wouldn’t sound like a bad plan. In the same way that, for example, Manchester United did with Dean Henderson at Sheffield United, you could see the logic in it.
But unfortunately for Kelleher, Alisson is simply too good right now. Given suggests a couple of years for Kelleher to go away and come back.
At this moment in time though, can you really see Liverpool’s No.1 dropping off to that extent in two years?
Of course, stranger things have happened, and Alisson will be thirty-two by then. In goalkeeping terms though, that’s no age really.
In fact, judging from what we’ve seen during the Brazilian’s career at Anfield so far, he could get even better by then. A scary prospect.
So, as galling as the thought may be, it’s likely that Kelleher will have to leave the club on a permanent basis. A loan would surely only be delaying the inevitable.
From Liverpool’s point of view, they also need to extract maximum value from the 23-year-old while they can. At this point in time, his stock is high. A loan as first choice somewhere may enhance that, but it could also backfire.
The last thing Liverpool will want to do is stand in the way of Kelleher’s progression. It has been remarkable up to this stage, and it now looks like time for him to make that next step.
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