Heimir: Kelleher is ‘too good' to stay on Liverpool bench
The Corkman is still celebrating a Premier League title that he had a big part in Liverpool winning last weekend, having deputised for Allison during the season.
However, it looks like the 26-year-old will leave Anfield in the summer and the Irish boss is confident he will have plenty of suitors. Caoimhín Kelleher celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title victory with Trent- Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. Pic:'I want him to go to a club where he will play on a regular basis,' Hallgrímsson said on Wednesday.
'I'm not so bothered [where]. He has shown everyone he can play at whatever level. He has been playing at the highest level, whether it's the Champions League or the Premier League and done really well.
'I just want him to be happy and playing regularly. Whatever that team is, I don't mind. I think goalkeepers are a little bit different you want them playing on a regular basis, match-fit, and confident in what they're doing.
'But I know he wants to be playing at the highest level. I don't mind where that is, just as long as he's playing on a regular basis because he's too good not to be playing.' Heimir Hallgrímsson wants Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher to go to a club where he is playing regularly. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane
While Kelleher has won the league, some other Ireland players have had to face up to relegation, including the green contingent at Ipswich, although Hallgrímsson believes that the consistency of Dara O'Shea's performances for the Tractor Boys means that he should find another top-flight club.
'Dara is in a relegated team but he has played more or less every minute for Ipswich this season and that's one thing, the consistency. I know that clubs will be looking at Dara in the Premier League and be saying number one, this is a consistent player. He is not injured a lot and is playing the same level all the time. I don't think anyone is blaming him for the relegation of Ipswich. He is in the centre-back role and he has been versatile at times as a right-back for Ipswich and in a back three as well. He has been really good this season.'
Hallgrímsson recently took in club matches in Netherlands and France, running the rule over Irish players such as Anselmo García MacNulty at PEC Zwolle, where the underage international has played 30 games this season, and Troy Parrott at AZ Alkmaar. Troy Parrott celebrates scoring a goal for AZ Alkmaar. Pic: Marcel Bonte/Soccrates/Getty Images
In Ligue Un, he looked at Andrew Omobamidele in Strasbourg and went to Reims to see John Joe Patrick Finn. Indeed, the Icelander is widening the net as much as he can, with another couple of Irish-qualified players currently working their way through the paperwork to become eligible.
He had hoped to have two friendlies before the two games in June, against Senegal and Luxembourg. However, one of those opponents pulled out because of other commitments and they were unable to source a suitable replacement.
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