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Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, pictured, and Everton defender Jake O’Brien have been on different sides of the Merseyside divide(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Everton defender Jake O'Brien has backed Republic of Ireland team-mate Caoimhin Kelleher to establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League as he closes in on a transfer from Liverpool to Brentford.

The Reds No.2 was conspicuous by his absence from training with the Ireland squad on Monday morning having travelled to London with a view to tying up a move to the Bees, which could eventually cost them £18m.

Kelleher, who picked up a Premier League winners' medal with the Reds this season, has made no secret of his desire for regular first-team football and, with Mark Flekken seemingly heading for Bayer Leverkusen, looks sets to be granted his wish by Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

And O’Brien, who will hope to play alongside his fellow Cork man in Friday's friendly clash with Senegal in Dublin, told a press conference: "It doesn't take for me to say how good he is.

I think everyone knows how good he is and what he's achieved over the last couple of years.

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"If it goes through, it's a great move for him, to become a number one in the Premier League.

"It's a great move for him, to go and play every week is very important and he's more than good enough.

Brentford have done well this season so it's a club he can progress and do a lot at.

"I think everyone knows how good he is and how high his ceiling is.

He can push on and do great things."

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Kelleher, who also has two Carabao Cup wins to his name, made 20 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool during the season which has just finished but had to play second fiddle to Alisson Becker once again.

Kelleher has been open in the recent past while on international duty about his need to play every week and, having made the Ireland jersey his own in the midst of Gavin Bazunu's injury problems, seems ready now to set out on a new path.

O'Brien said: "It's a difficult one because he is number two at Liverpool, but he's obviously got a really good keeper ahead of him.

"He's definitely up there with the best keepers in the Premier League and I think next year he'll show that he's up there with the best.

"I think he's proven in the games he has played for Liverpool that he can be up there with some of the best keepers in the league."

Although O'Brien and Kelleher live close to each other on Merseyside, they are separated by the city's football divide and the former, who joined Everton from Lyon last summer, admits he does not see a lot of his compatriot outside of their international commitments.

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He said: "I think that's just because in football, you've other things going on.

"He lives in the same area as me.
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