Liverpool eye Anthony Patterson as Caoimhin Kelleher replacement?

If Caoimhin Kelleher leaves the team soon, Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson is allegedly one of Liverpool’s transfer targets.

 

Kelleher has been Anfield’s underdog for the last five years behind the unstoppable Alisson Becker, frequently limited to EFL Cup and FA Cup matches under Jurgen Klopp.

 

Four years after joining the Liverpool academy from Irish team Ringmahon, Kelleher was elevated to the first team in 2019. In that time, he has only made 32 appearances for Liverpool while maintaining 12 clean sheets.

Only seven of those performances have come in the Premier League – including two matches against Fulham and Sheffield United earlier in the 2023-24 campaign – but he has played every minute of the Reds’ EFL Cup run and started five of their Europa League group-stage games this term.

 

Kelleher, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top number

twos, has always received great praise from Klopp, but it is only logical that he

has been linked to a move to a team where he would be first choice.

Back in the summer transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford were

reportedly running the rule over Kelleher, before both sides pursued other

targets in the shape of Guglielmo Vicario and Mark Flekken.

 

Klopp also affirmed that it would take “extraordinary” money for Liverpool to

consider selling Kelleher, who is under contract at Anfield for another two-and-

a-half years, but according to The Mirror, Reds chiefs feel differently.

 

The report states that the club would be willing to part ways with Kelleher for

around the £20m mark this year, and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has pursued

a move for the Republic of Ireland international for some time.

 

Should Kelleher end his lengthy association with the Reds, Klopp supposedly wants Sunderland’s

Patterson as his new backup goalkeeper, having been impressed with the 23-year-

old’s displays for the Black Cats in 2023-24.

 

Patterson – who stands at 6ft 2in tall – came through the Sunderland academy

system and spent a few months on loan with Notts County in the 2021-22 season

before cementing himself as the Black Cats’ number one.

In 27 Championship games during the 2023–24 season, the former England

Under-21 international has eight clean sheets to his credit, bringing his career

total for the club to 32 shutouts in 105 appearances.

 

After helping Sunderland to the playoffs in the 2022–2023 season, Patterson participated in every Championship

game. However, the Black Cats signed him to a new long-term contract that

would have expired in the summer of 2028.

 

Patterson told the Sunderland Echo that he was happy at the Stadium of Light

before pledging his future to the Black Cats: “I’m obviously really happy here.”

 

“This is my team; I’ve been a Sunderland fan my entire life. I’m glad to be here, satisfied, and eager for many more

games. Being able to play in is something extra amazing. Being able to play on the

field in front of Sunderland supporters as opposed to just watching as a fan.”

 

However, Patterson is not just being pursued by Liverpool; Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City are also

rumored to be keeping tabs on his whereabouts.