Pepe Reina, widely acknowledged as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, is being chased by Bayern Munich according to reports in Germany and England. The Spaniard is seemingly frustrated, and quite understandably so, at Liverpool. The club are no closer to competing for trophies despite a variety of promises and intimations that things are going to be resolved and Pepe Reina has apparently reached the end of his tether and is contemplating a move away.
Pepe Reina would reportedly fetch a fee close to £17 million for Liverpool. Reina is a Spanish international with 20 caps, although he operates as understudy to Iker Casillas. Reina has played over 250 matches for Liverpool and is a fan favourite. He has yet to win a single trophy at the club and like his compatriot Fernando Torres he is routinely linked with a move away to some of the biggest clubs in the world. He moved to Liverpool in 2005 after having played at Villareal for a couple of years. He had previously moved from Barcelona to Villareal, in search of first team action.
Rafael Benitez signed the Spaniard, who was in his early twenties at the time, and called him the best young goalkeeper in Spain. It turned out to be one of Benitez’s more astute purchases and the players reputation and value has soared dramatically since his arrival. He has made the occasional clanger, as against Arsenal in the last minute of the opening match of this season, but more often than not he has been exceptional. He has often single handedly, literally, rescued Liverpool and were it not for the consistency of his performances it is fair to say Liverpool would be in an even far worse position than they currently find themselves in. As a result of Liverpool’s precarious financial situation it is feasible the club would entertain a offer for the goalkeepers, especially one in the region of the £17 million being quoted.
Liverpool have sold Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso in recent times and rumours abound that Fernando Torres, and now Pepe Reina, will also follow them out of the exit door. Just when things appear that they might be getting better for the red side of the Mersey another piece of unwelcome news hits the press. It was recently announced that prospective Liverpool buyers are currently performing due dilligence, a formal financial procedure before a takeover, but any takeover might now be too late to prevent some of the better players in the Liverpool squad leaving. The January transfer window obviously doesn’t open for a while yet but the players thoughts might have already drifted to a new beginning with a new club.