BOURNEMOUTH are confident of beating Big Six clubs to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher this summer.
The Republic of Ireland international wants to leave Anfield to get first-team football, and may have played his last game for the club in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Chelsea, Tottenham and Carabao winners Newcastle are also interested.
Bournemouth are ready to move first however, putting them in pole position, as manager Andoni Iraola has made signing a goalkeeper a priority with Kelleher his top target.
Iraola has used on-loan goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for most of the season, but there is no obligation to buy in the loan contract with Chelsea and his performances have been mixed.
The Spaniard was dropped by Iraola earlier in the season for another young Irish goalkeeper, Mark Travers, who is now on loan at Middlesbrough.
Iraola regards Kelleher as a big improvement on both his current goalkeepers and has asked Bournemouth to move quickly when the transfer window opens in June.
Chelsea have also expressed interest, but will not commit to making a bid at this stage.
Boss Enzo Maresca wants to back his current goalkeepers, Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, despite the doubts of others at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham’s goalkeeping position is also unclear, with Guglielmo Vicario, Fraser Forster and Antonin Kinsky all being used by Ange Postecoglou this season.
And while Newcastle want an extra goalkeeper and like Kelleher, the club’s PSR problems mean they may not be able to meet Liverpool’s £30million asking price.
Bournemouth may also be able to offer European football as Iraola’s side are currently ninth in the Premier League, but Kelleher does not regard that as essential.
Kelleher’s priority is securing a move to a Premier League club that can provide regular first-team appearances after his career has stalled at Anfield through no fault of his own.
The 26-year-old has played 17 matches so far this season, but has been restricted to appearances in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup since Alisson Becker returned from a hamstring injury in December.
Liverpool are aware of Kelleher’s frustrations and will not stand in his way.
Arne Slot has already signed Kelleher’s replacement, with Georgian international Georgi Mamardashvili due to arrive from Valencia at the end of the season.
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