Liverpool set £20m valuation as West Ham step up transfer interest | OneFootball

Report: West Ham Make Move for Liverpool Goalkeeper Amid £20m Valuation

West Ham prioritise move for Liverpool’s Kelleher

West Ham United have identified Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher as a top target ahead of the summer transfer window, according to The Mirror. The Republic of Ireland international is expected to seek a permanent move away from Anfield in pursuit of regular first-team football.

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Kelleher, 26, has featured 20 times under Arne Slot this season, keeping nine clean sheets and earning plaudits for his calm distribution and shot-stopping. However, he remains second in the pecking order behind Alisson Becker and is expected to fall further down the ladder with Giorgi Mamardashvili due to arrive from Valencia.

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“In fact, he would probably go down a place in the goalkeeper standings if he stayed at Liverpool for another season,” The Mirror reports, with Mamardashvili’s loan due to end this summer and the Georgian anticipated to challenge for minutes.

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Liverpool reduce asking price amid strong interest

Kelleher was close to a move last summer, with Nottingham Forest keen on securing his services. However, they failed to meet Liverpool’s initial £35m valuation. The Merseyside club are now reported to be willing to sanction a deal at £20m, with a permanent move preferred.

“Obviously my intention is to do as well as I can and show my ability,” Kelleher said earlier in the season. “That is where my head is at with the situation. The best thing I can do is go and play well and maybe give the manager something to think about, give him a headache.”

West Ham’s preference is believed to be a loan, but Liverpool’s stance is firm: they want an outright sale and are not expected to stand in the player’s way if the price is met.

Market competition expected for goalkeeper targets

While West Ham are currently leading the race, competition is expected from multiple Premier League clubs. Chelsea have previously been linked with Kelleher amid uncertainty surrounding Robert Sánchez’s form. Elsewhere, Aaron Ramsdale, now with Southampton, is also available this summer and valued at a similar £20m fee.

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Ramsdale’s performance at the weekend — saving two penalties despite a 3-0 loss to Aston Villa — will add another option to the goalkeeper market. However, Kelleher’s experience at Liverpool, combined with his proven ability to step up in big matches, provides a compelling case for suitors.

West Ham evaluate goalkeeper options under new regime

West Ham manager Graham Potter is expected to implement a possession-based system, requiring a goalkeeper confident with the ball at his feet. Current first-choice Alphonse Areola has managed only four clean sheets in 21 league matches and has not consistently demonstrated suitability to the style Potter prefers.

Kelleher, meanwhile, appears ready to make the next move in his career. “But it does work both ways. I played so many times last season – and if you do well your valuation goes up because obviously the club is going to want a good profit,” he added. “I was clear (in the summer) that I wanted to play first-team football, whether that was here or elsewhere. I wanted to be a No.1.”

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“That was my thought process – but it’s always been my thought process because obviously I am a football player and like every player, I want to play. I’m not going to enjoy myself or be happy sitting on the bench.”

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

The potential departure of Caoimhin Kelleher is both inevitable and understandable. Few players in recent club history have handled a backup role with such grace and professionalism, and when called upon, Kelleher delivered. Whether it was a penalty shootout at Wembley or crucial domestic fixtures, he rarely put a glove wrong.

The reported £20m price tag feels reasonable — even generous — in the context of current market trends. For a Premier League club in need of a modern goalkeeper, he offers quality, composure, and Premier League experience at an age where many keepers are only starting to peak.

With Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving, the path forward is clear. Liverpool’s long-term succession planning in the goalkeeping department is already in motion. What comes next is ensuring that Kelleher finds a club where his talents are fully utilised. Should West Ham meet the valuation, it would be a move that benefits all parties — emotionally tough, but tactically sound.