Caoimhin Kelleher has provided an insight into the challenges Nottingham Forest likely faced when they failed in their attempt to sign him in the summer.

Looking to further strengthen their goalkeeper ranks towards the end of the transfer window, the Reds put forward a cash-plus-player offer for the Liverpool man. The bid of PS7 million plus Matt Turner - who subsequently went on loan to Crystal Palace - was rebuffed and said to be well below the Anfield side's PS30m valuation of the 25-year-old.

It was the second time Forest had failed in their bid to prise Kelleher away, with a reported PS15m offer rejected last January. And the Republic of Ireland international has suggested his performances when deputising for Alisson Becker may have priced him out of a potential move.

"It comes hand in hand that when you play for a club like Liverpool then other teams will be interested in you," Kelleher told the Daily Mirror. "I spoke with the manager about the situation. But I was quite clear before he came in - and it was never going to change because the fact is that I am up against Alisson and he's one of the best in the world. He's always going to be No.1 and he's always going to play.

"There were other factors, like negotiations with clubs as well as Liverpool needing to be happy. At the end of the day, it just didn't materialise. But it's not the worst thing in the world to stay at a club like Liverpool. You get opportunities to play because we're in so many competitions as well. This isn't the end of the world."

He added: "I played so many times last season - and if you do well your valuation goes up because obviously the club is going to want a good profit. I was clear (in the summer) that I wanted to play first-team football, whether that was here or elsewhere. I wanted to be a No.1.

"That was my thought process - but it's always been my thought process because obviously I am a football player and like every player, I want to play. I'm not going to enjoy myself or be happy sitting on the bench."

Kelleher now has the opportunity to impress once again as he looks to show new boss Arne Slot what he can do while Alisson is sidelined with a hamstring injury. But he has dismissed any suggestion the game time will be an opportunity to put himself in the shop window.

Nevertheless, Kelleher's future may well be in the spotlight again next summer as Liverpool already have a deal in place for Giorgi Mamardashvili ahead of the 2025/26 season. Whether Forest try again to secure his services remains to be seen.

"I have been professional because if I'm not ready I am not doing myself justice," Kelleher said. "I need to give myself the best chance to play as well as I can. There have been no conversations about the future. That's for next summer and I'm not thinking about that right now."

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