Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp fears star will leave this month, with Championship player ready to replace him: report

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Juergen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, celebrates following their sides victory after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 01, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on a Championship player to replace a star looking set to leave.

Kelleher has been Alisson’s deputy between the sticks since 2019, making 32 appearances in all competitions, only seven of which have been in the Premier League. The bulk of his appearances have been in cup games, helping to earn him a reputation as something of a penalty shootout specialist.

However, the Irish international is now 25 years old, and with Alisson under contract for another three and a half years, it would be understandable if Kelleher were to feel his career would now be better served by heading out to become the undisputed number one elsewhere.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on September 3, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Alisson is blocking the pathway for his deputy (Image credit: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Nobody in Merseyside will have read it, but The Sun have put two and two together on that front and suggests that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has concerns that Kelleher may well depart this summer – though they add that a January departure will not be sanctioned.

Reportedly, Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson is being lined up in case Caoimhin Kelleher asks to leave for pastures new in pursuit of regular first-team football. The Black Cats’ academy product Patterson is the man said to be in the frame if Kelleher were to leave.

The 23-year-old firmly established himself as the Black Cats’ stopper of choice in the second half of the 2021/22 season, helping them to win promotion from League One.

Liverpool's backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher

Liverpool’s backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher could depart soon (Image credit: Getty Images)

Sunderland went close to back-to-back promotions by reaching last season’s Championship play-off semi-finals, where they were beaten by eventual winners Luton, and are hoping to go one better this season. They currently sit outside the top six on goal difference, with Patterson boasting one of the best goalkeeping records in the division.

Fans of the League Cup will be delighted to know that Patterson saved a penalty earlier this season, denying Swansea’s Jamal Lowe in November on his way to keeping one of his eight Championship clean sheets this season.

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