Caoimhin Kelleher to Celtic lands direct address from Jurgen Klopp as timeline placed on Liverpool pledge

Boss Jurgen Klopp insists there was no chance that Liverpool would have sold Caoimhin Kelleher in January with swirling rumours over a move to Celtic.

The Ireland international has been heavily linked with a move to Celtic Park since the summer window having spent most of his Reds career on the bench. Speculation has only ramped up with Brendan Rodgers on the hunt for a new number one with Joe Hart set to hang up his gloves at the end of the campaign.

But the Liverpool No. 2 has bene thrust into the limelight having acted as Alisson's understudy at Anfield in recent years but has been thrust into action in recent weeks following an injury to the Brazilian. The 25-year-old played a key part in helping Liverpool lift the Carabao Cup last weekend - and Klopp has now declared there was no chance the club would cash-in on the goalkeeper mid-season.

However, he has insisted that there is no set valuation on the goalkeeper amid speculation that Celtic could be priced out of a deal. The German also conceded there had been crunch talks with the shot-stopper over his future before a ball had been kicked this term - but Klopp convinced him to stay.

Asked about the prospect of selling Kelleher in the winter window with Celtic and Nottingham Forest linked with a deal, Klopp said: "It is completely normal that you have these discussions with players who are ready.

"An outfield player in a situation like Caoimhin would never come and talk about these sorts of perspectives because they have ten other positions. With a goalkeeper it is slightly different, but it never reached a point whereby it was, 'You have to stay, shut up'.

"It was just the normal discussion about his future. The most important thing was we had to help him on