Tottenham Hotspur could have an impact on Caoimhin Kelleher’s Liverpool future with the Premier League outfit looking to snatch contract-rebel David Raya from Brentford in the summer transfer window.
Bees boss Thomas Frank, ahead of Sunday’s London derby with West Ham United, urged supporters not to get carried away with paper talk surrounding the future of their Spanish shot-stopper.
But, in truth, we don’t need to gauge the gossip columns for clues about David Raya’s short-term plans.
The former Blackburn Rovers glovesman has been more-than open about his reluctance to sign a new contract at Brentford; his potential availability catching the eye of numerous top-flight clubs. Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United among them.
“I don’t think it’s the right time to sign a contract at the moment,” the £40 million-rated Raya said back in Februray. “I was offered a new contract last year, and one in January. But we didn’t reach an agreement.
“You never know what’s around the corner. There’s nothing I can say about what’s going to happen in the summer.”
Is David Raya replacing Hugo Lloris at Tottenham Hotspur?
Raya will be a free-agent in 2024.
Sky Sports, meanwhile, report that Brentford are already stepping up their pursuit of a potential replacement. Though finding a man with Raya’s confidence in possession – Jurgen Klopp famously described him as a goalkeeper with the vision of a ‘number ten’ may be a challenge.
Fiorentina’s Alban Lafont, Freiburg’s Mark Flekken are early candidates. Ditto Kelleher. The 25-year-old Liverpool back-up who appears to be getting itchy feet after another season stuck behind Alisson Becker at Anfield.
“I don’t mind watching,” Kelleher admits. “But, obviously, I’d rather be playing.”
If, as reports suggest, Hugo Lloris leaves Tottenham for a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia, that could spark a chain-reaction which sees a whole fleet of goalkeepers change clubs. Raya to Spurs could see Kelleher leave Liverpool for Brentford, with a Bart Verbruggen or a Leopold Wahlstedt then taking his place on Merseyside.
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