Newcastle United dream target Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool goalkeeper has rejected contract terms with club

The Magpies are looking to make some key signings in the summer transfer window

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher would be No 1 at Newcastle United next season – if the Magpies decided to make a move for the Republic of Ireland international. That’s the verdict of former Reds midfielder Don Hutchison, who feels the 26-year-old will leave Anfield in the summer.

The keeper is already second choice to Brazil star Alisson Becker on Merseyside, with Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving at Liverpool to compete for the No 1 spot. This will move Kelleher further down the pecking order, with Newcastle among a number of clubs mooted as a potential destination.

The Magpies have been strongly linked with a move for Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford, but Hutchison, who also starred for West Ham, Everton, Sunderland and Sheffield United, feels the Irishman would move ahead of Nick Pope should be make the switch to Tyneside. However, he has backed Bournemouth to make a move, with current keeper Kepa set to return to Chelsea after a season-long loan.

“I think Kelleher will go, to be honest,” he told goldenpanda.com. “Alisson will be Liverpool’s No 1 and Mamardashvili will be the No 2. It would be really unfair to ask Kelleher to stay, because how do you expect a lad that is so good to be their No 3?

“It would be totally unfair and I think he deserves to be No 1 somewhere. I think he goes to Bournemouth and he’s their No 1. I think he can go to the majority of the teams in the Premier League.

“I mean, I understand that transfer would never happen, but he’s better than what Manchester United have. But I think he’s such a talented goalkeeper. I would take him at Newcastle, he’d be No 1 there too.”