With rumours swirling that Manchester United are monitoring a new goalkeeper, Teddy Sheringham has made his stance clear on whether Liverpool’s No.2 Caoimhin Kelleher should head to Old Trafford
Teddy Sheringham has insisted that any Manchester United approach for arch-rivals Liverpool’s deputy goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher would be unsatisfactory. Current No.1 at Old Trafford, Andre Onana, has played his way into the firing line this term, most recently being at fault for a pair of goals in the Red Devils’ first-leg 2-2 Europa League draw with Lyon before being dropped for a weekend trip to Newcastle.
Rumours are now rife that, come the summer, a replacement for the Cameroonian will be sought out as Ruben Amorim looks to get his faltering side, who sit 14th in the Premier League, back on track. One of the top-flight’s hottest goalkeeping prospects is Liverpool’s Kelleher, who it seemed was sure to depart Anfield last summer after some stellar cup and league performances as second in command to the unshakable Alisson.
While no deal was completed, it now appears highly likely that, in light of the Reds completing a deal for Valencia and Georgia star Giorgi Mamardashvili, Kelleher will finally seal a move to be No.1 elsewhere. However, ex-United marksman Sheringham believes that a move to Manchester would not benefit the club or the player, unless Amorim gets to know the Irishman first.
“Caoimhin Kelleher to Manchester United. I don’t think that would be good for the player or the club. It would bring so much pressure on his shoulders,” Sheringham told CasinoHawks.
“The only way it might be a success is if Ruben Amorim got to know him personally and was able to have a close relationship with him, but without that it would be putting too much pressure on his shoulders.”
Kelleher has been relatively outspoken about his prospects between the sticks behind Liverpool’s current Brazilian superstar, and came out in September last year, admitting his desire to play weekly.
“I’ve made it clear in the last few years that I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out,” said Kelleher last summer, when it looked likely he’d be departing Anfield.
“The club’s made that decision to get another goalkeeper [Mamardashvili], and from the outside looking in, it looks like they’ve made a decision to go in a different direction.
“Sometimes from the outside looking in, it looks like that’s 100 per cent my decision, but at times it’s not always in my hands. It’s been reported that Liverpool have rejected a few bids as well. My ambition is clear that I think I’m good enough, and I want to go out and prove it.”
This season under Arne Slot, Kelleher has resumed his role as an above-par deputy, filling in for Alisson when the Brazilian suffered a hamstring injury in October last year.
More Premier League minutes came last month when the regular No.1 was sidelined with a concussion, and the Irishman has, as per usual, found plenty of time in cup competitions – starting in the Reds’ 2-1 League Cup final defeat by Newcastle.
Yet, with the arrival of Mamardashvili and a desire to play consistently, Kelleher will look to leave Merseyside at the end of this campaign.
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