‘Leading the race’ - Chelsea hit with major transfer blow as Bournemouth race to land £30m statement deal

European hopefuls Bournemouth are reportedly leading the race to sign highly-rated Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher ahead of a whole host of elite Premier League sides.

The Republic of Ireland international looks destined for a move away from Anfield this summer and could well have played his last match during Liverpool’s recent Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United.

Kelleher was picked between the posts at Wembley Stadium marking his third appearance in the final of the competition but he is expected to drop back down to the deputy position for the remainder of the Premier League season behind Alisson Becker as the Reds look to wrap up a second league title in five years.

The 26-year-old has spent the last six years of his career on Merseyside since moving to the area from Cork, but is thought to now be seeking regular first team football ahead of the 2026 World Cup as he hopes to help the The Boys in Green secure qualification to their first major tournament in a decade.

Bournemouth lead race for Caoimhin Kelleher

Next season marks the final year of Caoimhin Kelleher’s contract but is unlikely he will be remaining at Anfield due to Alisson’s presence in between the posts and the imminent arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose move from Valencia was already secured last summer.

As such, TalkSport understands Bournemouth are leading the race to sign Kelleher as they look for a long-term replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has performed fairly well at the Vitality Stadium following his loan move from Chelsea.

TalkSport claims Kelleher is valued by the Reds at around £30m and despite interest from Newcastle United and Chelsea, Bournemouth are thought to be the favourites to get the deal over the line, in a move which could mark their second most expensive signing of the Premier League era after the £37m signing of Brazil forward Evanilson from FC Porto last summer.

Kelleher has impressed in his eight league outings this term and boasts a record of 24 saves and 63 recoveries in the league while conceding nine goals. He has also saved penalties from Southampton’s Adam Armstrong in the league and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in Europe, making him the first Liverpool goalkeeper to save penalties in consecutive games in 115 years, via Liverpool World.

Chelsea suffer double transfer blow

Bournemouth’s pursuit of Caoimhin Kelleher could come as a huge blow to Chelsea amid speculation linking them with the Republic of Ireland shot-stopper. The Blues currently have Robert Sanchez between the posts but the Spaniard has come under immense scrutiny for some of his inconsistent performances this term, with him notably making five errors leading to goals this season, which is the joint most alongside Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric.

The Cherries’ efforts to sign Kelleher also make it vastly unlikely that the club are going to move for Kepa on a permanent basis after the Spaniard's loan move from Stamford Bridge.

Kepa remains the most expensive goalkeeper in football history after moving from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6m back in 2018, but has been surplus to requirements for the past two seasons after loan spells at Real Madrid and Bournemouth.

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