Forest again rebuffed in bid to sign Caoimhin Kelleher
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Caoimhin Kelleher has again been the subject of a rejected bid from Nottingham Forest as his frustrations as Liverpool understudy are set to prolong for at least another four months.
The Corkman had spoken at the end of May of his intention to become No 1 this season, be it at Liverpool as Alisson’s successor or elsewhere, but the Reds have yet to receive a suitable offer.
Forest had a €15m bid knocked back in the final hours of last January’s transfer window and again came calling with a more creative proposal on Thursday.
According to The Athletic, they were willing to send American stopper Matt Turner in the opposite direction but the swap plus cash package didn’t meet the Merseyside club’s €30m valuation.
This transfer deadline closes on Friday at 11pm and at this stage new Reds boss Arne Slot is reluctant to part with a goalkeeper who’s proven his ability to step in whenever their first-choice Brazilian isn’t available.
That might have been permanent had Alisson accepted a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia in the summer but him sticking around leaves Kelleher lost in purgatory again.
His two Carabao Cup medals over the past three years are reflective of his contribution to the silverware but a change of manager hasn’t changed his status as merely someone to deputise for Cup matches, injuries or suspensions.
“I’m at that stage in my career where I need to make that next step and play week in, week out,” he said while on Ireland duty in the summer. “Wanting to be No 1 is really a reflection on the season and ambitions.”
He’ll retain his place between the sticks for Ireland’s upcoming Nations League games against England and Greece due to similar inactivity besetting his rivals but turning 26 in November, it was felt the supremely talented shot-stopper would have by now cemented a fresh challenge away from Alisson’s shadow.