Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, has been earmarked by Barcelona for a return to the Nou Camp.
Barca’s current number one goalkeeper, Spanish international Victor Valdes, has stated his intention not to sign a new contract with the club when his current deal expires at the end of next season.
It is unlikely that the newly crowned La Liga champions will allow Valdes’ contract to run down as that would mean losing their star keeper on a free transfer in a year’s time.
Home
The Mirror have reported that Barcelona coach, Tito Vilanova, met with club president, Sandro Rosell, and sporting director, Androni Zubizarreta, to try and bring Reina ‘home’ in a deal worth an estimated £10m.
Should the Catalan club make a move for Reina, it could mean the Spaniard will play his last match for Liverpool tomorrow when relegated Queens Park Rangers visit Anfield.
It is unlikely that Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will block a move to Spain for Reina, who is on a salary of about £110,000-per-week. The Northern Irish manager has already made clear his plan to reduce the wage bill at the Merseyside club.
Arsenal had also expressed an interest in taking Reina, but it is thought that his wages would be too high for the north London club.
Temptation
A return to Barca, where Reina started his career, could prove a strong temptation for the 30-year-old.
Barcelona are looking to bring more than one new goalkeeper to the Nou Camp to replace Valdes, with Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Villareal’s Adrian Ortola also on their shopping list.
Source , Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
