Brentford technical director Lee Dykes believes Caoimhin Kelleher has been "in the shadows a little at Liverpool" in recent times as speculation continues to surround the Republic of Ireland international's future.
The 24-year-old has cemented himself as an adequate deputy for the indispensable Alisson Becker at Anfield. But after just four senior appearances over the course of the 2022/23 season, Kelleher has been heavily linked with a summer move away from Merseyside.
Brentford, along with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, have been touted with a potential bid for the shot-stopper, who Jurgen Klopp last month insisted it would take an "extraordinary offer" to prise away from the club this summer.
Speaking on the Beautiful Game Podcast, Dykes heaped praise on Liverpool's No.62 but insisted he has not played enough games for the Reds in recent years despite his Carabao Cup-winning heroics in February 2022.
READ MORE: Liverpool's bid to sign £51.4m Khephren Thuram could be held up by Manchester United
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola has already busted myth about £50m Liverpool midfield transfer wildcard
“Kelleher is a good goalkeeper," said Dykes. "There is no doubt in that. He is a good goalkeeper. He has not played a lot of games obviously, he has been in the shadows a little bit at Liverpool.”
It appears Thomas Frank's side will be in the market for a goalkeeper this summer with current No 1 David Raya looking set to replace the long-serving Hugo Lloris at Tottenham Hotspur. The 27-year-old Spaniard has just one year remaining on his contract at the G-tech Community Stadium and has rejected fresh terms from the Bees twice already. Late last week, the two clubs opened talks over a potential deal.
“We sat in front of David and said if you go beyond us, that is the time for you to go. I think he is one of the best (goalkeepers) in the Premier League which makes him one of the best in the world," added Dykes, who joined Brentford's recruitment department in 2019 before later being made technical director.
"He is at a really good moment as a goalkeeper and he is well within his rights to explore his options. That is fine, no problem.
“We signed him in 2019. I’d seen him come through his loan spells in the lower leagues. He really developed at Blackburn (Rovers). Effectively, we have had a plan with him and we are okay with that. We will replace him if we need to replace him, or he will sign a new deal and stay with us. What will be will be. Same as Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbuemo, Ethan Pinnock, Aaron Hickey, and Rico Henry.
“We have to understand that at Brentford, like at Brighton & Hove Albion, there are bigger clubs out there that could potentially have homes for these players.
"We will always be in the mindset of if we helped them get to the top level, then we have played our part as long as the club are remunerated for any potential transfer. I watch him every day at training and he is top-level.”
READ NEXT:
