Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has expressed his disappointment over the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili and stated that he now intends to leave Anfield in search of more consistent playing time.
Kelleher has been the primary backup to Allison throughout his tenure at the club, but he has long harbored ambitions to become the first-choice goalkeeper.
However, the 25-year-old’s aspirations of eventually replacing the Brazilian took a significant hit when new manager Arne Slot approved the £30 million signing of Valencia’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili last month.
The Georgian goalkeeper is set to spend another year in Spain before joining Liverpool, and Kelleher openly admits that this development may mark the end of his time at the club.
‘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,’ the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said.
‘The club’s made that decision to get another goalkeeper and from the outside looking in, it looks like they’ve made a decision to go in a different direction.’
Liverpool rejected an offer from Nottingham Forest to sign Kelleher over the summer, with the Irishman hinting the decision to stay was not down to him.
‘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,’ he added.
‘Sometimes from the outside looking in, it looks like that’s 100% my decision but at times it’s not always in my hands.’
After Mamardashvili, Liverpool made only one further signing this summer, with Juventus star Federico Chiesa joining for just €13m (£10.9m).
Asked what the Italian may bring to his team, Slot said: ‘He brings experience and talent, but at the same time he brings the potential to keep on getting better and this is something that really excites us.
‘I have said all summer that it is not easy to sign players for Liverpool because the standard of players we have is so high but in Federico I firmly believe we are signing someone who enhances what is already here.
‘It’s not just his talents physically; Federico has experience of winning trophies, of course one with his national team, and dealing with setbacks and challenges. It’s the mentality we want here at Liverpool.
‘Not only this, but he is someone who has an incredible work-rate to match his talent.’
