Speculation over Pepe Reina's future has intensified over the last few days, and it now appears that the Spaniard is definitely on the verge of signing a loan deal with Napoli.
According to Gianluca DiMarzio, a reporter for Sky Sports Italia:
"Pepe Reina is due to have a medical at Napoli at noon today, before signing a contract and meeting his new team-mates later this afternoon"
Speaking to reporters after Liverpool's 2-0 victory over an Indonesia XI in Jakarta, Rodgers explained:
“Financially, it is something we needed to look at, because obviously otherwise you wouldn’t move on a top goalkeeper.
“Pepe is a good guy. I’ve a lot of time for him, and he understands totally. He’s got a big season ahead – it’s World Cup year and if he wasn’t going to be playing, it could severely harm his chances.”
Then, on Monday, Rodgers added:
"There's nothing as of yet. The latest was that there was an offer to take him on loan but that’s something that hasn’t been discussed any further"
For the last year, I've argued repeatedly that Reina would leave this summer, but as per usual, denial-afflicted fans refused to countenance the possibility, just as they stubbornly refused to accept that Luis Suarez might also leave.
€15m-rated Reina - recently hailed as 'top class' by Stewart Downing - has repeatedly flirted with Barcelona over the last two years, and although Reds legend Bruce Grobbelaar is a fan of the Spaniard, he believes that his departure is inevitable. He told Talksport:
"Brendan Rodgers has called Reina's bluff. He is a great goalkeeper, but Mignolet is a good keeper. Rodgers bought Mignolet to put pressure on Reina, but he will go, either now, or in January"
Reina's plans seem very clear: spend a year at Napoli, then take over at Barcelona when Victor Valdes leaves next summer. One thing's for sure, there's no way he'll come back to Liverpool, especially with Simon Mignolet in the driving seat.
Having said that, you never know in football. Barcelona might go cold on Reina, and Mignolet might do a Massimo Taibi and have nightmare at Anfield, which might necessitate the cancellation of the loan deal. Granted, that's unlikely, but stranger things have happened.
Best of luck to Reina, though. For the most part, he's been a superb goalkeeper for the Reds, and it's just a shame that his form regressed over the last couple of years.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
According to Gianluca DiMarzio, a reporter for Sky Sports Italia:
"Pepe Reina is due to have a medical at Napoli at noon today, before signing a contract and meeting his new team-mates later this afternoon"
Speaking to reporters after Liverpool's 2-0 victory over an Indonesia XI in Jakarta, Rodgers explained:
“Financially, it is something we needed to look at, because obviously otherwise you wouldn’t move on a top goalkeeper.
“Pepe is a good guy. I’ve a lot of time for him, and he understands totally. He’s got a big season ahead – it’s World Cup year and if he wasn’t going to be playing, it could severely harm his chances.”
Then, on Monday, Rodgers added:
"There's nothing as of yet. The latest was that there was an offer to take him on loan but that’s something that hasn’t been discussed any further"
For the last year, I've argued repeatedly that Reina would leave this summer, but as per usual, denial-afflicted fans refused to countenance the possibility, just as they stubbornly refused to accept that Luis Suarez might also leave.
€15m-rated Reina - recently hailed as 'top class' by Stewart Downing - has repeatedly flirted with Barcelona over the last two years, and although Reds legend Bruce Grobbelaar is a fan of the Spaniard, he believes that his departure is inevitable. He told Talksport:
"Brendan Rodgers has called Reina's bluff. He is a great goalkeeper, but Mignolet is a good keeper. Rodgers bought Mignolet to put pressure on Reina, but he will go, either now, or in January"
Reina's plans seem very clear: spend a year at Napoli, then take over at Barcelona when Victor Valdes leaves next summer. One thing's for sure, there's no way he'll come back to Liverpool, especially with Simon Mignolet in the driving seat.
Having said that, you never know in football. Barcelona might go cold on Reina, and Mignolet might do a Massimo Taibi and have nightmare at Anfield, which might necessitate the cancellation of the loan deal. Granted, that's unlikely, but stranger things have happened.
Best of luck to Reina, though. For the most part, he's been a superb goalkeeper for the Reds, and it's just a shame that his form regressed over the last couple of years.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Don't agree with the loan, sell yes, loan? no,it's a mistake, Napoli have the money and who's to say Barca will still want Pepe in a years time? he will be a year older and slower!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand any of this why worry about what might or might not have happened a year from now. Better to spend the money on more immediate team needs.
ReplyDeleteIts absolutely clear to me that there has been a deal done with Barcelona. Valdes stays on, Reina keeps his gloves warm in Naples, then joins Barcelona when Valdes leaves. Thats the only reason he isnt being sold. Id put my mortgage on it.....if i owned my own property :/
ReplyDeleteI dont know why... But when I see Simon wearing our goalkeeper kits, he seems like a beast between the posts... and that reassures me...
ReplyDeletebut what if he breaks his arm,or his form takes a massive drop he comes back to us and we pay his wages if hes going to barca they should have bought him and loaned him to napoli,why are lfc doing this its madness
ReplyDeleteI think it's a good move. We cannot afford having Pepe on the bench. It's time for new blood, and for Pepe to change environment!
ReplyDeletePlayers have been bought and sold whilst injured in the past. And we save 110k a week loaning him out. Personally id rather we just sold him but he doesnt want to be on the bench at Barca during a world cup year when his competition is Valdes, De Gea and of course Casillas. Only 3 can go. Massive year for Pepe.
ReplyDeletesorry m8 its still madness why do we not sign another world class striker,and loan suarez out to napoli as well then sell him to real next season ,because it would be insane thats why,but it what we are doing here on a smaller scale
ReplyDeleteI'd consider a piece of good business IMO because you can't have a player on bench who's earning 100K per week. Its a realistic and pretty much smart thing to do.
ReplyDeleteits pretty simple really save 5 million in wages this year sell him to barca next year for 5 to 8 million. means we get more out of deal than just keeping him to sell next year. rodgers is clearing out the decks in prep for us qualifing for champs league this season so that next year our wage structure is better placed to go after bigger talent. even if people say we havent qualified yet rodgers still has to prepare for that outcome as im sure he has no doubt we will qualify. i think a few will be quite surprised about how good our business has been this summer come november.
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't possible to sell this summer, than this is probably the next best thing, imo. I didn't agree with the idea of rotating two keepers from the beginning. So I'm not disappointed.
ReplyDeleteagree completly
ReplyDeletewhy would they pay 8 million when they can him for nothing on loan...its simple if i was running barca id say we what him for nothing or he can sit on your bench for 100 grand we have already come out and said we cant afford to have him sat on the bench...they would have to be f*cking idiots to offer a fee
ReplyDeletemate we are playing dumptys at the moment i hope hes the greatest ever but hoe many goalies have we signed kirland and co who where meant to be the next best thing and crumbled under the pressure...i hope he can catch high balls because with our team of diddy men hughes will have the high balls flying in
ReplyDeleteunless mingo is for certain better than pepe it was crazy to do business we are not gaining...mingo transfer fee and wages would probably add up to more than reinas wages.....plus it wouldnt surprise me if we where paying some of his wages
ReplyDeleteyour right m8 but our bench is full of crap ....
ReplyDeletebarca now have a new manager what if he don't want him..any manager worth his salt should see reina is spent as a keeper we should sell him not loan him
ReplyDeleteHow is he spent? He's only 30 and that's the age when keepers start to hit their best form (James, Friedel, Van Der Sar, etc). The issue with Pep is that his heart hasn't truly been in it.
ReplyDeleteThis way we get his wages off the books and the possibility of two teams wanting him next summer (Napoli & Barca).
any keeper that gets beaten at t he near post as often as he does .any keeper that is pisspoor on crosses any keeper that's only saves28% of shots in the penalty area that's fired at him in my book is spent. hearts . walkabout at city. last year fa cup final oops near post again f"ck me the list is endless . I watched the flyin pig clem bruce he is the worst keeper since mike hooper and havin spent 35 yrs of my life donning the gloves I have a bit of insightin in the art of being a cat .the man is spent
ReplyDeletejas his form ?? hes been crap for 3 seasons If form drops any more we would be lucky to get a bid from Prescott cables
ReplyDeleteOnly thing that really upsets me about this is that 15mil could be the difference between finally signing a big marquee signing for the next season. And BR, for someone who claims this was a finanacially provoked move, you'd think selling him now makes more financial sense than loaning him out and selling him at a devalued price next season....
ReplyDeleteOf course, man... But he has an unbeatable aura about him and that's good... I think kolo is going to start against stoke... and that can only be a good thing...
ReplyDeleteIt has nothing to do with denial-afflicted fans or their refusal to countenance the possibility that Reina might leave, which only became a possibility after a possible world class keeper like Mignolet signed or the stubborn refusal to accept that Suarez might leave but it has everything to do with a so-called supporter constantly undermining the integrity of the LFC management and playing team by fostering the hidden agendas of some media streams and also increasing the sellers ability to demand a higher value for their player while demanding a lesser price for our players. If you are in the business of working against LFC just man-up and say so, you can be forgiven for a differing point of view but I mean how do you explain the barrage of media attention to Suarez last season and the piggy-backing of the naive to run with the same stories to throw him out of England when now the only person who seems to castigate him is Jamie, while all the others are seemingly now in favour of him playing for any other club in the EPL other than Liverpool, does that not resonate with you as hypocracy or are you totally devoid of the business criteria of "Playing Ones Cards Close To The Chest". What your readers want is facts not innuendo or bitterness and leave the fallacies to the other fools, is that not what you demand of your posters.
ReplyDeleteAnd so is our First XI, I hope BR does sign some classy players or there is no point in dreaming about the top 4.
ReplyDeleteIf Reina is true to his words, he would never consider leaving Anfield. For someone who openly claims that he welcomes competition from Mignolet, he sure is taking the easy option. Evidently, he talks louder than his actions.
ReplyDeletei just do not see the logic in this move
ReplyDeletebetter the devil you know
ReplyDeleteIt is too risk and dangerous if Simon Mignolet cannot fullfill our expectation as no 1 LFC goal keeper.Only Brad Jones an option only and what else we have in the store?Much better if we can sell him with high value and find another replacement players for Pepe Reina.LFC must hold atleast 2 best players at goal keeper areas.I suggest LFC try to sign 1 more goal keeper, Asmir Begovic.Brad Jones is getting older,and you needed to searching new replacement for him too.
ReplyDeleteBefore start new season much better for LFC release out players who only passenger inside the team like Downing,Borini and Henderson.They all not very creative and briliant footballer.WASTE TIMES to still using rusty players.