‘Liverpool to pay out millions after latest transfer development’
Liverpool are to pay out a seven-figure fee after the latest confirmed developments in the pre-Club World Cup transfer window.
The Reds summer business is already well underway, after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid was confirmed, while Jeremie Frimpong has since arrived in his place from Bayer Leverkusen.
Arne Slot’s side have also confirmed their second sale of the window, as Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher moved to Brentford on Tuesday (3 May) for an initial reported fee of £12.5million [Sky Sports].
Kelleher had been on Liverpool’s books since 2015, and was an impressive back-up to first-choice shot-stopper Alisson when called upon to play in his place over the last few years.
His move to West London will represent a chance to become a first-choice in the Premier League under Thomas Frank after so many years as a number two, and his transfer has had a knock-on effect to a club that helped him become the top keeper he is today.
Liverpool owe seven-figure windfall following Kelleher’s move to Brentford
Football Insider reported midway through last season that Kelleher wanted to leave Liverpool this summer in order to play more regular first-team football.
The 26-year-old will get that opportunity with the Bees, following Mark Flekken’s move to Leverkusen, and Brentford will become only his second club as a professional after coming through Liverpool’s youth ranks from the age of 16 onwards.
Prior to his move to Merseyside, he was on the books of Irish club Ringmahon Rangers, and The Guardian report that the amateur Cork-based side are now set to receive a windfall of around £2.5million (€3m), after smartly negotiating a 20 per cent sell-on fee as part of his 2015 transfer to the Reds.
Kelleher had to leave Liverpool this summer to progress his career
Football Insider verdict
Football Insider revealed in February that Liverpool were set to demand offers of £30-40million for the Republic of Ireland international, so Ringmahon may well feel that their sell-on could have garnered an even bigger fee, but they will no doubt still be ecstatic with their hefty windfall figure.
Kelleher made his name as an unsung hero at Liverpool over his years as a first-team player at the club, as he was able to provide stability and quality to the Reds’ starting eleven in Alisson’s absence.
His impressive stand-in performances for the Anfield outfit did not go unnoticed across the Premier League, and Football Insider previously reported that both Newcastle United and Chelsea had him on their list of targets ahead of the end of the recent campaign.
| Appearances | Goals conceded | Clean sheets | Penalty saves |
| 20 | 20 | 9 | 2 |
The Republic of Ireland international has always been expected to move on this summer after the Reds secured the services of Valencia stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili last August for a reported initial fee of £25m [BBC Sport].
The Georgian international officially becomes a part of Slot’s squad on 1 July, and his status as a number one keeper in La Liga and at international level means he would have been ahead of Kelleher in the pecking order if the 26-year-old had stayed around on Merseyside.
For a player due to enter the prime of their career soon like Kelleher is, it obviously made little sense to stay at Anfield this summer, and so he will be pleased that his future has been secured this early in the window as he looks to nail down a place as a Bees starter for next season.
His rise to the top of the game will no doubt be a huge beacon of hope for children in his home country that are looking to become professional players, and Kelleher will also likely be very happy that his former youth side are in line for a huge injection of cash that could help fund the next generation of Irish stars.