Liverpool face battle to keep hold of cup final hero at the end of the season

He may have been the hero of Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, but it's no foregone conclusion that backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher will remain on Merseyside beyond this season.

Despite a flurry of speculation surrounding Kelleher's future during the January transfer window, Liverpool stood firm against attempts to lure the talented Irish keeper away.

Strugglers Nottingham Forest had made clear their admiration for Kelleher, with reports indicating that he was their top priority during this winter.

Forest even reportedly tabled a £15 million bid for the goalkeeper, but Liverpool swiftly rejected the offer, holding out for a fee exceeding £25 million.

At the time, many questioned the decision, but Kelleher's standout performance in the Carabao Cup final, where he made crucial and spectacular saves to deny Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher, further underscored his value to Liverpool - especially in the absence of first-choice stopper Alisson Becker.

Interest persists

While Liverpool's decision to keep hold of the Irishman has been vindicated, for the timebeing, conversations over his future are likely to continue.

Celtic have reportedly joined the race for his signature. The Scottish champions, whose current number one, Joe Hart, will retire at the end of the season, are said to view Kelleher as an ideal replacement.

Yet, with Liverpool holding out for a significant transfer fee, Celtic's ability to meet their valuation remains uncertain.

Future prospects

Although Kelleher has been a pivotal part in writing yet another chapter of Liverpool history, the 25-year-old is approaching a juncture in his career where he needs to be playing regular first-team football at the highest level.

While he has been an outstanding stand-in for Alisson, the Brazilian is only 31 years old and could remain among the world's standout keepers for many years to come.

A move to another big club to be number one would make a lot of sense - even if Liverpool's new manager will have a big job trying to replace him.