Former Ringmahon keeper Kelleher is namechecked by Jurgen Klopp as one of the reasons Liverpool don't need Joe Hart

CORK keeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been cited by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as one of the reasons the club won't be signing Joe Hart next season.

Kellleher transferred to Anfield from Ringmahon Rangers' U17 team two years ago, having made his mark with Rangers since U8 level and also in secondary school competitions with PBC.

Klopp explained he's not interested in recruiting out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Hart because of the strength in depth available at Liverpool, including young Leesider Kelleher. He stated: "The young ones have made really big steps, Caiomhin (Kelleher) and Kamil (Grabara), and that is really good."

England international Hart is currently on loan with Serie A side Torino, but the 30-year-old could return to the Premier League next season. Klopp has had issues with his keepers this campaign with Loris Karius, bought in the summer for £4.7million, given a 10-game spell in the Premier League in the middle of the season when Simon Mignolet was going through a bad spell, but he failed to convince.

Since Mignolet returned his form has improved, and in the last two matches against Stoke and West Brom the Belgian has been particularly impressive.

"Extra competition? You ask about goalkeepers but even though you don't say the name is it about Joe Hart?" said Klopp when asked whether he was considering strengthening in the goalkeeping department.

"We don't usually talk about these sort of things but in this particular case I think we can. He is a fantastic goalkeeper, the goalkeeper of the English national team, the highest quality, but we have highest-quality goalkeepers. It is not for us in this moment and hopefully not for us in the future - not because of Joe but we already have two strong goalkeepers.

"Wardy (Danny Ward) is at Huddersfield and playing a brilliant season - he is our player so we will bring him back next year so there is competition.

"The young ones have made really big steps, Caiomhin (Kelleher) and Kamil (Grabara), and that is really good. The situation with our goalkeepers is really good. I understand the question but I cannot give the answer probably a few people want."