Cunningham Thinks Caoimhín Kelleher Should've Made Contentious Move

Brentford would secure their first victory of the Premier League campaign yesterday, with the club's Irish contingent playing a big role in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa. Nathan Collins and Caoimhín Kelleher both starred on the pitch, while Keith Andrews was also praised for his tactical approach in the game.

Bees boss Andrews came in for some criticism on the back of last week's disappointing loss to Nottingham Forest, with many questioning whether it was wise to appoint a coach with a such a lack of managerial experience. While that remains to be seen, there were signs yesterday that Brentford could thrive under his stewardship.

Brentford would produce an excellent tactical performance in the victory, largely limiting Aston Villa in the final third. Both Collins and Kelleher played a key role in that.

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Cunningham: Caoimhín Kelleher Should Have Made Controversial Move This Summer

The upcoming campaign will be a massive one for Caoimhín Kelleher, who is acting as a no. 1 at club level for the first time.

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Brentford would secure the services of the Irishman for a knockdown fee of just £12million, although it could eventually rise to £18million due to potential add-ons. Still, that deal is already looking like a bargain for the London club.

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It was expected that there would be quite a bit of interest in the Cork man this summer, with some surprised that Brentford managed to secure his services for such a relatively low fee.

Speaking on Premier Sports, Kenny Cunningham named Manchester United as one club who should have pushed hard for a deal for Caoimhín Kelleher this summer.

"I can't think of more than three goalkeepers better than him [in the Premier League]" 🗣️

Martin O'Neill and Kenny Cunningham discuss Caoimhin Kelleher's transfer to Brentford over the summer, and why Manchester United didn't make a move for the shot stopper 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/gTWFpUFKBd — Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) August 23, 2025

It's a great signing. For £18million, I can't believe they've got him to be honest with you. If somebody had told me that Caoimhín was out the door at Liverpool this summer, I would have been lining up Chelsea, Newcastle, any of the top clubs. I rate him that highly. For me, last year he was top three (goalkeepers in the Premier League). I can't think of three better than him, that's how highly I regard him. I would be very interested in the conversations Caoimhín's agent had with different football clubs in terms of how much interest there was. Manchester United at the moment are talking about spending £26million on an unproven keeper from the Belgian league and bringing him into Old Trafford. Why weren't they banging down the door to get this fella, a Manchester United supporter, into Old Trafford?

While Caoimhín Kelleher would have been an excellent signing for Manchester United, it is highly unlikely that Liverpool would have sanctioned a sale to Old Trafford. A player has not moved directly between those two clubs since Phil Chisnall did so in 1964.

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The Cork native was a Manchester United fan in his youth. However, his time at Liverpool has likely softened that stance.

As to the other clubs mentioned by Cunningham, it is likely that Kelleher's lack of experience as a no.1 may have been a stumbling point for some interested teams.

In saying that, should he have a strong season in the Premier League, it would be no surprise to see him get an even bigger move next summer.

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