Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has issued a hands-off warning to any clubs interested in signing Caoimhin Kelleher this summer.
Klopp was asked about a number of his players who are set to leave the club in his pre-Aston Villa press conference this afternoon. As has been confirmed by liverpoolfc.tv, the quartet of James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita will wave goodbye to Anfield after tomorrow’s game.
There is one other player out of contract at Liverpool this summer – third-choice goalkeeper Adrian. However, unlike with the other four, discussions are said to be on-going over a new deal for the 36-year-old. Asked whether these talks were linked to Kelleher’s future at the club, Klopp looked bemused.
“Caoimh Kelleher?! He has a contract! You want us to say goodbye just in case?” bellowed the German. “No, I honestly can’t see Caoimh leaving. It would have to be an extraordinary offer that I start thinking, I would have to say.
“Adrian, if we don’t say goodbye what would that mean? That he probably stays. But if there’s nothing in the papers then it’s not decided yet, but we will not do it [say goodbye] just in case. But I have a rather good feeling that we will keep working together.”
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Kelleher and Adrian set to stay put
This was a hugely interesting little segment of today’s press conference with the Liverpool manager. Although there have been quite a few reports that Kelleher could leave Anfield this summer, Klopp looked genuinely shocked at the suggestion.
That could still mean nothing of course. The season is still going on and the 55-year-old isn’t someone who enjoys talking about transfer rumours at any time of the year.
Perhaps he didn’t want to unsettle Kelleher as he prepares to head off for the summer. That would be fair enough.
But given the strength of Klopp’s reaction, it would suggest that he really does have no plans to let go of the 24-year-old ‘keeper.
With Adrian seemingly set to stay, too, Liverpool suddenly have no business to do in the goalkeeping department.
That hadn’t looked likely previously. At the very least it had been thought that the Reds may need to bring in a new back-up. German ‘keeper Ron-Robert Zieler had been mentioned as a candidate.
Unless anything else transpires though, Liverpool fans can now work to the assumption that their ‘keeping department will stay the same next year. Good news, although you do wonder how long Kelleher will accept being a second-choice.