Stuart Kettlewell not surprised by interest in Liam Kelly
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell was not surprised to hear about potential interest in Liam Kelly amid reports that Celtic have placed the goalkeeper on a list of summer transfer targets.
However, Kettlewell has not given up all hope that the Scotland international could stay at Fir Park beyond the end of his contract this summer.
Kelly is hoping to go to Euro 2024 with Scotland and the 28-year-old will have a major decision to make ahead of next season.
Celtic are in the market for goalkeepers with Joe Hart set to retire and Benjamin Siegrist tipped to move on. Former Rangers, Livingston and QPR keeper Kelly would add to Celtic's homegrown ranks for European squads if he made the move to Parkhead.
When asked about the reports, Kettlewell said: "You possibly have got a wee bit more information than I have. That's certainly nothing I have spoken to Liam about and I do genuinely speak to him on a daily basis.
"I have trusted Liam and rightfully so, you look at his performances, the numbers he bashes out every season, his availability, his leadership, how good a goalkeeper he is - not just with his feet, but his hands as well - I think he's top drawer.
"He is as good as I have ever come across in terms of the captaincy. If you see how he manages a dressing room and brings a group of players together, it's pretty special.
"What wouldn't surprise me is a goalkeeper of his stature attracting interest.
"Liam would be someone I would love to keep at the club, but there's a number of factors that come into that.
"It could hopefully be a big summer for him potentially as well and we need to wait and see how that goes.
"But interest from other clubs isn't something that has been on the agenda with us."
Motherwell secured their cinch Premiership safety with a 4-1 win over Livingston last Saturday and continue their push for seventh place when they travel to Ross County on Saturday.
Retaining their top-flight status might allow Motherwell to move forward with some plans for next season, although there is uncertainty over the club's ownership amid talks with American TV executive Erik Barmack.
Kettlewell said: "I have spoken to a large number of players about the situation moving forward. I have had to be as active as I possibly can be in the timescales.
"I'm the type of person that, as soon as I have an opportunity to speak to a player or give an exact outcome of a situation, I tend to jump out my seat and make sure it happens.
"I will not sit and stew on it for a week and hide from a conversation and not speak to a player because I think it might be an awkward situation. Without disclosing all those conversations, I feel I'm well on top of that.
"Yes, I would like that to always happen sooner than it does, but I'm on top of that as much as I can be at this stage."
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