Arne Slot risks wrath of wantaway Liverpool star after £29m newboy sets new standard

Liverpool boss Arne Slot risks upsetting wantaway star Caoimhin Kelleher as new signing Giorgi Mamardashvili continues to catch the eye in Spain.

Prior to Federico Chiesa’s late arrival, it had looked at one point as if Mamardashvili would be the only signing of the summer window for the Reds, when Liverpool agreed to a deal worth £29m for the Valencia star.

However, despite putting pen to paper on the transfer, the Georgian goalkeeper had agreed to stay in La Liga with Valencia for the remainder of the 2024/25 season, before linking up with Liverpool next summer.

With Alisson Becker still the No.1 pick at Anfield and under contract until the summer of 2027, Mamardashvili’s signing cast doubt on the future of Liverpool’s existing backup keeper Kelleher.

The Irishman has been vocal in his wish to move on for more first-team football, but Liverpool have made their stance clear – they’ll only sell if a suitable offer arrives.

Commenting on his future earlier in the season, Kelleher revealed: “I made it clear in the last few years, I want to go be a No.1 and play week in, week out.

“The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper. From the outside looking in, it looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction.

“My ambition has always been clear the last few seasons that I want to be a No.1, playing week in, week out. Sometimes from the outside looking in, it looks like it is 100 per cent my decision but at times, it is not always in my hands.”

Kelleher did get his chance to shine this weekend, with Alisson having been ruled out of action after picking up a knock in between the Nottingham Forest defeat and the AC Milan victory.

And shine he did. As well as keeping a clean sheet, the 25-year-old made seven saves, including a stellar goal-line clearance late on to ensure the Liverpool backline wasn’t breached.

His strong showing under Slot could count for nothing though, with Mamardashvili having also impressed over the weekend for Valencia.

The Euro 2024 cult hero earned his second Man of the Match award for the season during Valencia’s 2-0 triumph over Champions League qualifiers Girona.

It means that even if Kelleher continues to perform as Alisson’s deputy, for one reason or another, the chances of him taking the No.1 shirt long-term are all but non-existent.