Jurgen Klopp might not be the only person leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, and there has already been interest in at least one of the Reds’ young talents

Caoimhin Kelleher will have a big decision to make on his future come the summer, with the Liverpool starlet needing to decide whether to stick or twist.

The Irish international has been the Reds’ cup goalkeeper this season, as well as deputising for Alisson while the Brazilian has been out injured.

With Alisson still having plenty of years ahead of him, though, Kelleher may decide he needs to leave to play regular first-team football.

Kelleher’s recent run in the team has seen him impress, not least in the Carabao Cup final. An inexperienced Liverpool team got past Chelsea at Wembley, with Kelleher keeping the Blues at bay for 120 minutes.

At 25 years old, though, cup cameos and a status as first reserve might not be enough. Here, Mirror Football looks at some of Kelleher’s options after former Manchester United and Everton keeper Tim Howard suggested this season might be his last at Anfield.

“I think this will give him a really good taste of football and think ‘I can play at this level, I can be a number one somewhere’,” Howard said on NBC Sports. “And by the way, it might not be his decision, I think there’ll be a lot of teams knocking on Liverpool’s door saying ‘we want this kid.’ He’s very, very good.”

Sunday’s FA Cup defeat against Manchester United was Kelleher’s 22nd appearance of the season, more than he had managed in his entire career before the start of the current campaign. The next question, though, concerns where he might be playing his football next season..

Wolves
Wolves were among the interested parties over the summer when it looked as though Kelleher might seek a move away from Anfield. While manager Julen Lopetegui has since departed after reportedly pushing for a move, there are still questions over the club’s longer-term plans between the sticks.

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Kelleher has made a career-high 22 appearances this season (
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With Gary O’Neil in the dugout, Wolves have conceded 44 goals in 28 league games, compared to 38 across Lopetegui’s 27 games in charge in all competitions. First-choice keeper Jose Sa has just four league clean sheets to his name, and shipped three goals against Championship side Coventry as Wolves bowed out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage.

Sa has plenty of time left on his contract but hasn’t always convinced, and has encountered injury problems this term. Kelleher, six years his junior, might be seen as an upgrade if O’Neil is as keen as his predecessor.

Brentford
Brentford also eyed up Kelleher last summer, only to turn their attentions elsewhere when it became clear Kelleher wasn’t for sale. They signed Mark Flekken as a replacement for Arsenal-bound David Raya, but the Dutchman has come in for some criticism this term.

Mark Flekken has blown hot and cold at Brentford (
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Flekken, like Wolves’ Sa, has just four Premier League clean sheets this term. Just one of those shut-outs has arrived in 2024 – against Wolves, as it happens – with Brentford at risk of relegation after shipping more goals than any other side outside the bottom three.

With Raya expected to make his Arsenal loan permanent in the summer, the Bees ought to have the funds needed for a player like Kelleher. First, though, they need to stay in the league.

Bayern Munich

Bayern number one Manuel Neuer turns 38 this month (
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Bayern will eventually have to make plans for a post-Manuel Neuer era, with the Germany international set to turn 38 this month. Neuer returned from long-term injury in October and has captained the team to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but there are questions over what lies ahead in the longer term.

Second-choice keeper Sven Ulreich is 35 himself. Israel international Daniel Peretz, signed as cover over the summer, has just one cup outing to his name this term.

Kelleher would provide the benefit of European experience if Bayern decide now is the time to push for a younger starting keeper. He started Champions League games against Ajax and Midtjylland in 2020, and has been a near ever-present in this season’s Europa League

Celtic

Celtic keeper Joe Hart is retiring at the end of the season (
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With Joe Hart set to retire at the end of the current campaign, Celtic will be after a new number one. While the Scottish giants might not have the financial sway of clubs in some of Europe’s biggest leagues, the potential for regular Champions League football can’t be underestimated.

Celtic have a rich history of Irish internationals, with Robbie Keane and Roy Keane among those to spend time at Parkhead after memorable stints in England. The current squad includes three Ireland representatives, with Adam Idah impressing in front of goal after joining on loan from Norwich.

Brendan Rodgers’ side finished bottom of their Champions League group this season without a single clean sheet to their name. They may well feel a talented keeper like Kelleher can ensure they do better next time out.

Liverpool

Caoimhin Kelleher and Conor Bradley of Liverpool are congratulated by Jurgen Klopp
Of course, Kelleher may decide to stay put rather than chancing his arm elsewhere. He may feel he has proved himself this term in Alisson’s absence, and a new manager may agree.

For now, we don’t know who will replace Klopp in the dugout when the manager steps down. While there are no question marks over Alisson for as long as the current boss remains in charge, a new man may see things differently.

Whatever happens at the top, Kelleher is likely to hold talks with Klopp’s successor to get a feel for where he stands ahead of the 2024-25 season. It’s only then that he’ll be able to make an informed decision about where he begins the campaign, and he may yet decide his future is at Anfield.