Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian has rejected a contract offer from the club and will be returning to Spain to continue his playing career with Real Betis. This departure creates a vacancy in the goalkeeping ranks at Liverpool, and it is expected that young goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros will be promoted to the third-choice position.
According to reports from the Mail and the Athletic, Liverpool intends to promote Jaros into the first-team setup, showing their faith in the 22-year-old homegrown talent. Jaros is currently on his summer break after being involved in Czechia’s Euro campaign, which ended at the group stage.
Jaros had a successful loan spell with Sturm Graz last season, making 21 appearances and helping the team win the Austrian Bundesliga. His experience and homegrown status make him a viable candidate to train alongside Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, Alisson.
Meanwhile, Caoimhin Kelleher, who currently occupies the third-choice spot, has expressed his desire to become a No. 1 goalkeeper. However, there have been no serious commitments from other clubs to buy him, as reported by the Mail. Liverpool has set a price tag of at least £25 million for Kelleher and will only consider selling him if this fee is met.
The upcoming season will see changes in Liverpool’s goalkeeping department. Fabian Otte will take on the role of lead goalkeeping coach upon his return from working with the USA at Copa America. Claudio Taffarel is still with Brazil, so academy goalkeeping coach Mark Morris has been overseeing pre-season training with a group that includes Kelleher, Marcelo Pitaglua, Fabian Mrozek, and Harvey Davies. Jaros is expected to join this group next week.
Jaros expressed his excitement about the opportunity to make his way into the first team in an interview with This Is Anfield’s Bence Bocsak. He noted that it’s encouraging to see a pathway to the first team, and now his chance has finally arrived.