Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher would be No.1 at Newcastle United next season—if the Magpies opt to pursue the Republic of Ireland international. That’s the opinion of ex-Reds midfielder Don Hutchison, who believes the 26-year-old is set to depart Anfield come summer.
Currently playing second fiddle to Brazil’s Alisson Becker at Liverpool, with Giorgi Mamardashvili joining the ranks to vie for the No 1 jersey, Kelleher’s position in the squad looks increasingly precarious. Newcastle has been mentioned as one of several possible new homes for the keeper.
While Newcastle has shown interest in Burnley’s James Trafford, Hutchison thinks Kelleher would surpass Nick Pope in the pecking order if he made the move to Tyneside. Nonetheless, he’s tipping Bournemouth as a likely suitor, especially since current keeper Kepa is expected to return to Chelsea after his loan spell.
Hutchison shared his thoughts with goldenpanda.com: “I think Kelleher will go, to be honest,” he said. “Alisson will be Liverpool’s No 1 and Mamardashvili will be the No 2. It would be really unfair to ask Kelleher to stay, because how do you expect a lad that is so good to be their No 3?”.
“It would be totally unfair and I think he deserves to be No 1 somewhere. I think he goes to Bournemouth and he’s their No 1. I think he can go to the majority of the teams in the Premier League.
“I mean, I understand that transfer would never happen, but he’s better than what Manchester United have. But I think he’s such a talented goalkeeper. I would take him at Newcastle, he’d be No 1 there too.”
Kelleher has previously expressed his determination to become first choice and is ready to leave Liverpool to make that happen. He was wanted by Nottingham Forest last summer and has also been linked with Leeds in recent months.
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Speaking earlier in the season, he said: “I think I made it clear in the last few years that I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out,” he said.
“The club has made that decision to get another goalkeeper as well, which from the outside looking in looks like they have made a decision to go in a different direction.
“So yeah, my ambition has always been clear and has been clear the last few seasons, that I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out.”
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Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel believes new boy Giorgi Mamardashvili faces an almost impossible task in trying to overtake Alisson to become No.1 next season.
“The club made this option there, I think a year ago, a year and a bit ago,” Taffarel, a legendary goalkeeper in Brazil in his own right, told ESPN.
“This acquisition of the youngster is possibly with an eye to the future. Yet Alisson remains at an extremely high level. And given his age, coupled with his experience and determination, you know? It’s going to be quite a task for anyone to come in and take over from him, isn’t it?”
