Arne Slot’s caution to the departing Liverpool player resonates following transfer request

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has expressed his desire to play regularly, but Arne Slot has emphasized that the club’s priorities will always come first.

Kelleher’s recent comments about wanting consistent playing time have led to clarification that Liverpool’s needs take precedence. The 25-year-old Irish keeper, who has impressed in his role as a backup to Alisson Becker, attracted transfer interest from Nottingham Forest towards the end of the summer window.

Liverpool, however, rejected these offers and are keen to retain Kelleher, who has been with the club since his teenage years. Kelleher has voiced frustration over the forthcoming arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia next summer.

During the international break, Kelleher stated: “I made it clear in the last few years, I want to go be a No.1 and play week in, week out. The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper. From the outside looking in, it looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction.”

He added, “My ambition has always been clear the last few seasons that I want to be a No.1, playing week in, week out. Sometimes from the outside looking in, it looks like it is 100 per cent my decision but at times, it is not always in my hands.”

While Kelleher is eager for regular football elsewhere, Liverpool hold a strong position: the keeper is under contract until 2026 and the club is reluctant to let him go.

Arne Slot, the new head coach, addressed Kelleher’s situation last month. While he understood Kelleher’s aspirations, Slot highlighted that the club’s needs must be prioritized. “Maybe [he has to think of himself], but we have to make decisions as well,” said Slot, who previously managed Feyenoord. “It’s not only the player. If you work at a club like Liverpool, you need competition and you need a lot of good players.”

He further noted, “Like I said, Mamardashvili is someone for the long-term future of the club and I’m really, really happy with the goalkeepers we have at the moment.”

With 47 appearances for Liverpool, Kelleher has yet to feature in a competitive game this season and is expected to remain on the bench for Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest at Anfield.