Liverpool have shrugged off an underwhelming transfer window to start the season in very good from.
There was some concern that the Reds may not have done enough over the summer, with Federico Chiesa the sole arrival to the first-team squad.
However, perhaps the most important thing Liverpool did in the market was to keep their team together.
Three players did end up leaving Anfield permanently. But none of Sepp van den Berg, Fabio Carvalho or Bobby Clark were expected to feature too much this term.
Other exits had been mooted, with interest from Saudi Arabia always a bit of an unknown as well. But while Arne Slot managed to keep the rest of the Liverpool squad around, it doesn’t sound like everyone is happy about it.
Caoimhin Kelleher ‘very frustrated’ at Liverpool
Aside from the trio who did eventually get moves away from Liverpool, there were two more players who had looked likely to go.
Joe Gomez was perhaps the biggest candidate for that. But having failed to get a move away, it has been claimed that Gomez has been assurances over game time by Slot.
The other player who had looked set to depart was back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Kelleher had his best season yet at Liverpool, leading to suggestions that the Irishman wanted to leave for more regular game time.
Reports claimed that Liverpool would accept bids of around £25m for Kelleher, but save for a late attempt by Nottingham Forest, no official offers seemed to arrive. As a result, Kelleher stayed with the Reds and will play back-up to Alisson Becker once again.
READ MORE: Liverpool turned down late player swap from Nottingham Forest for Caoimhin Kelleher
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, this has deeply frustrated Kelleher. Speaking exclusively to Rousing The Kop, Bailey says that although the 25-year-old will not cause a problem, he was keen on a move.
“I don’t really think it was about value with him, they got to the point where they couldn’t let him go,” says the reporter. “I understand the player himself isn’t too happy.
“There was a lot of goalkeeper movement as we saw. Southampton, Wolves, Bournemouth, this might have been his big chance and Kelleher was interested in all of those teams.
“So, I think he’s very frustrated,” Bailey adds. “But he’s under contract and it is what it is.”
Celtic could swoop for Kelleher next year
As well as the usual expectation that Kelleher will play back-up to Alisson this year, it also now has to be factored in that Liverpool signed Giorgi Mamardashvili.
It has been claimed that Liverpool think Mamardashvili can be their number one for the next ten years. As a result, the door seems to be almost closed on Kelleher ever being first choice at Anfield.
Consequently, it feels as though the Ireland international’s exit is merely being delayed. And according to Bailey, while Kelleher will stay put throughout the season, he is likely to be on the market next summer.
“I don’t expect him to leave in January, I would be surprised,” he says.
“But next summer he is a candidate and Celtic may come back into the equation. By next summer his value will have come down, so keep an eye on them.”
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
