Chelsea 'considering' deal for Liverpool fringe player as £35m asking price named
Chelsea have been linked with a Liverpool player who could cost as much as £35million.
Chelsea are being linked with a surprise move for a Liverpool player who has struggled for regular game time since breaking into the first team. The Blues have spent significantly over recent years as part of a controversial transfer policy, although they did fine-tune that policy last summer.
Chelsea slowed down their recruitment drive, and Enzo Maresca quickly demanded that players surplus to requirements were offloaded, unwilling to work with a bloated squad. Maresca was accused of being ruthless with his offloading of players, but the Italian was determined not to suffer the same fate as some of his predecessors, who were clearly impacted by the size of the squad.
Maresca’s approach has worked, with Chelsea currently in third place having enjoyed their best start in years, Chelsea certainly aren’t closed off to new signings, though, even if January recruits are not likely, with the summer window likely to be their main focus when it comes to strengthening further.
One position that doesn’t need strengthening is the goalkeeper role, but that hasn’t stopped transfer links from surfacing. According to The Sun, Chelsea are interested in Liverpool number two and Republic of Ireland starting keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
It’s claimed Liverpool do not want to sell Kelleher to a rival, but they would reportedly consider a deal in the £35million range. Kelleher may push for a move in the near future given he is now 25 years of age, while he has as many international caps as he has club league starts, and more club starts are not likely behind Alisson Becker, who is one of the best keepers in the world.
The Chelsea link is very surprising, though, given the Blues spent a significant amount of cash to sign Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal last summer, adding competition for Robert Sanchez. They also signed Djorde Petrovic last season - since sending him out on loan - with Lucas Bergström and Marcus Bettinelli options three and four. The Blues also have seven goalkeepers out on loan across the first team and development squad, including record goalkeeper signing Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Crucially, if Kelleher is going to leave Liverpool, it will be because of a desire to play first team football. Unless he is promised a real chance of starting ahead of Sanchez, it seems unlikely he will swap Liverpool for Chelsea at this stage.