Chelsea ‘plotting £35m swoop’ for Liverpool star

Chelsea are reportedly ready to match Liverpool's valuation for Caoimhin Kelleher in the summer transfer window.

Kelleher has stood out for Liverpool in recent weeks when he replaced the injured Alisson in goal. He has kept four clean sheets in his eight appearances for Liverpool this season, helping Arne Slot's side win six and draw one of their seven games since Alisson went down with a hamstring injury on October 5.

However, his form has only highlighted the 25-year-old's need to leave Anfield in search of more regular football, with Slot making it clear that Alisson will return to the starting line-up once he is fit. Liverpool signed Giorgi Mamardashvili in the summer before loaning him back to Valencia for the season, meaning Kelleher would likely drop to third choice next season.

Chelsea currently have the unreliable Robert Sánchez in goal and have spotted an opportunity to upgrade their goalkeeper. The Sun report that they are willing to pay £35 million to sign Kelleher in the summer, believing such a fee will force Liverpool's hand even if they would prefer not to sell to a direct rival.

There is reportedly competition from Napoli and Juventus, but Kelleher would prefer to stay in the Premier League. Chelsea would certainly have to offload some goalkeepers if they were to sign Kelleher given the ridiculous numbers they currently have on their books.

Enzo Maresca's side have Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mike Penders, Gabriel Slonina, Luke Campbell, Ted Curd and Teddy Sharman-Lowe on their payroll, meaning Kelleher would become the eleventh goalkeeper.

It seems only a matter of time before the Republic of Ireland star leaves the club he joined as a teenager in 2015, as Kelleher has made no secret of his desire to join Nottingham Forest in the summer, but they fell short Liverpool's valuation of £35 million. “My intention is clearly to perform to the best of my ability and demonstrate my capabilities,” Kelleher recently explained.

“That's where my head is at with the situation. The best I can do is start playing well and maybe give the manager something to think about, give him a headache.

“But it does work both ways. I played so many times last season and if you do well, your rating goes up, because the club obviously wants a good profit. It was clear to me (in the summer) that I wanted to play first-team football, whether that was here or elsewhere. I wanted to be a number 1.

“That was my thought process, but it has always been my thought process because obviously I am a footballer and like any player I want to play. I'm not going to enjoy or be happy sitting on the couch.”