Caoimhin Kelleher has expressed his frustration over being denied a move away from Liverpool last month.
The Reds rejected a late bid from Nottingham Forest for the goalkeeper, following a failed attempt by the East Midlands club to sign the Irishman the previous January.
Now in his fifth season as Alisson Becker’s backup, the 25-year-old has openly stated his desire to find a first-choice role elsewhere if such opportunities do not arise at Anfield.
Kelleher made a career-best 26 appearances for Liverpool last season while Alisson was injured but has yet to feature under new head coach Arne Slot.
Reacting to the transfer, Kelleher hinted that Liverpool’s actions suggested they were preparing for life without him and suggested that staying at Anfield this summer was not his choice.
“I think 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,” he declared when speaking ahead of Ireland’s Nations League clash with Greece.
“The club have made that decision to get another goalkeeper in as well which, obviously from the outside looking in, looks like they’ve made a decision to go in a different direction.
“So yeah, my ambitions have always been clear and has been clear the last few seasons that I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out.
“Sometimes from the outside looking in, it looks like maybe that’s 100% my decision but maybe at times it’s not always in my hands as well.
“Liverpool have rejected a few bids as well.
“My ambition is clear.
“I’m good enough and I want to go and play week in, week out.”
Slot had previously detailed Liverpool’s choice to keep Kelleher despite the goalkeeper’s wish to seek a move.
Kelleher made his first appearance of the season in Ireland’s 2-0 defeat to England on Saturday and is expected to start again in the match against Greece on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Caoimhin Kelleher is likely to make his first appearance for Liverpool this season in their League Cup match at home against West Ham United on September 25.
“Maybe (he has to think of himself), but we have to make decisions as well,” Slot said last month.
“It’s not only the player.
“If you work at a club like Liverpool, you need competition and you need a lot of good players.
“Like I said, Mamardashvili is someone for the long-term future of the club and I’m really, really happy with the goalkeepers we have at the moment.”
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