Former Liverpool star John Aldridge believes the club will have had conversations about Caoimhin Kelleher leaving Anfield in the summer.
Kelleher has played 17 times this season, eight of those outings in the Premier League, with first-choice keeper Alisson missing a number of games through injury. He also made a stand-out appearance against Real Madrid in the Champions League, saving a Kylian Mbappe penalty in a 2-0 win.
The Irish international hasn't featured in the league since December, when his mistake cost Liverpool two points against Newcastle. With Giorgi Mamardashvili set to join from Valencia in the summer, he could find his options even more limited.
Arne Slot's side have a tall order settling the contract situations affecting Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. While Kelleher would command a decent fee if he leaves, rather than departing on a free transfer, Aldridge believes a Kelleher exit will have been considered by those at Anfield.
“I think the fact that Liverpool are going to be paying a lot of money for Giorgi Mamardashvili means either Alisson or Caoimhin Kelleher will leave the club," Aldridge told Betano. "It must be something that’s been talked about between the directors and Arne Slot.
“Kelleher is too good to be a number two at any club and he knows that as well. I’m die-hard Liverpool so I’d always stay at the club if I could, but you have to see it from the player’s perspective as well.
"I think, unfortunately for Liverpool, that he probably will leave the club this summer. If he wants to play week in, week out, then he’ll need to leave Anfield and find somewhere else.”
Kelleher was the subject of interest last summer, but Liverpool knocked back a number of bids for the 26-year-old. With his contract expiring in 2026, though, this could be the year he leaves.
"I made it clear in the last few years, I want to go be a No.1 and play week in, week out," the keeper said in September. "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.
"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."