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Arne Slot looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League clash between RB Leipzig and Liverpool, mystery figure and Liverpool badge inset
Credit: Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Transfers

Liverpool fans think Richard Hughes is about to do something ‘comical’ in the transfer market, they are not happy

Billy Meyers
Billy Meyers

Liverpool often navigate the transfer market in impressive fashion.

The Reds have previously found gems, such as the £34m signing of Mohamed Salah and the £8m capture of Andy Robertson.

Liverpool have also excelled when it comes to selling players, receiving a combined sum of £55m from Crystal Palace for Christian Benteke and Mamadou Sakho, while Bournemouth also memorably paid £15m and £6m respectively for Jordon Ibe and Brad Smith.

Now, however, Liverpool fans are unhappy after hearing the details of another imminent sale, as Caoimhin Kelleher nears a move to Brentford.

Liverpool fans think Brentford are getting a ‘bargain’ in Caoimhin Kelleher

Richard Hughes – Director of Football at Anfield – is now receiving some criticism, after Brentford agreed an initial fee of £12.5m to sign the Republic of Ireland international.

Kelleher, who Virgil van Dijk admires, could end up costing £18m if performance-related add-ons are triggered, but even that fee is deemed as too cheap by supporters online.

One Liverpool fan wrote on X (previously known as Twitter): “Ngl (not gonna lie). £12.5m raising to £18m after potential add-ons is somewhat of a bargain for Kelleher. If true, don’t think we did well on selling him there. Easily worth £30m – £35m.”

A second Liverpool supporter echoed that sentiment, even describing the business as “comical” from those at Anfield. In full, they wrote: “Yep. Great player. The fee is comical but glad he gets the move he deserves. Even on an expiring deal he’s £30m plus.”

As referenced, Kelleher only has 12 months left on his Liverpool contract – hence the minimal fee – although fans clearly believe he is still worth more despite this.

Elsewhere, a third Liverpool fan commented: “Kelleher is good enough to be a starting GK (goalkeeper). He should be £20m – £25m. Less than £20m is a discounted sale.”

A fourth Liverpool fan moaned that “we always sell too cheap” – which is perhaps an overreaction given the aforementioned sales the Reds have pulled off in the past.

They posted: “100%. We always sell too cheap, bargain for Kelleher (who is) one of the best in the league.”

A fifth Liverpool fan compared the situation to that of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who waited for his deal to expire before joining Real Madrid on a free transfer, saying: “(It is) our fault for letting another player run his contract down.”

Last but not least, another Liverpool fan said Kelleher is at least worth more than £20m, posting: “(He is) worth at LEAST £25m, which Brentford could definitely pay.”

How Florian Wirtz and Bayer Leverkusen might have impacted the Caoimhin Kelleher fee

£12.5m for Kelleher does seem low, but when you consider who he is replacing at Brentford, things start to make a bit more sense.

The Bees are in need of a replacement for Mark Flekken, who is joining Bayer Leverkusen.

Of course, the Reds are trying to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, so it is in the best interests of Liverpool to help the Bundesliga side in any way they can, to ensure negotiations over the Germany international go as smoothly as possible.