Brentford Negotiates Kelleher Transfer
Brentford has successfully negotiated an £18 million ($24.2 million) offer to acquire goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool. The 26-year-old, who represents the Republic of Ireland internationally, is set to enter the last year of his contract with the Merseyside club. Liverpool had previously estimated his value at £20 million ahead of the summer transfer window.
Changes in Goalkeeping Lineup
This development coincides with Brentford nearing an agreement to sell their current starting goalkeeper Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen for around €10 million (£8.4 million), showcasing a significant shift in their goalkeeping lineup.
Kelleher, who has been with Liverpool since joining from Ringmahon Rangers in 2015, ascended through their youth ranks and made his first-team debut in 2019 despite facing stiff competition from established number one, Alisson. Throughout his tenure at Liverpool, Kelleher has achieved considerable success, making 67 appearances and playing crucial matches in the Carabao Cup finals in both 2024 and 2025. In addition to his club contributions, he has also earned 22 caps for the Republic of Ireland.
Aspirations for New Challenges
Expressing a desire for a new challenge after Liverpool’s Premier League trophy celebration on May 25, Kelleher shared his aspirations with Optus Sport, asserting, “I feel like I’m a number one and I feel like I’m good enough to play week in, week out. That’s what I’m looking to do.”
Liverpool’s Response and Future Plans
Meanwhile, Liverpool is preparing for Kelleher’s potential departure by finalizing the acquisition of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, following a previously arranged £29 million deal last summer. In this transformative period, Liverpool has also secured Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and is in discussions for a significant €130 million transfer for playmaker Florian Wirtz.
Notably, Brentford has previously made successful signings from Liverpool, including Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho, highlighting a fruitful collaboration between the two clubs.
