The Friday November 12 Transfer Gossip
Posted 12/11/10 08:38
REINA WANTS OUT OF LIVERPOOL
Bombshell for Liverpool in the Daily Mirror:
'Pepe Reina has told Roy Hodgson he wants to leave Liverpool - possibly as early as January.'
The paper claims that Reina, a supposed target for Manchester United, Arsenal and Inter Milan, 'has made it clear to Hodgson and the Liverpool board he wants to go.'
'Hodgson has tried to persuade the keeper who has a £20 million buy-out clause in his contract to stay, but is now looking at possible replacements. Top of his list are Germany international stopper Manuel Neuer, and Ajax number one Maarten Stekelenburg, who was the Holland keeper in the World Cup final.'
But before we continue by looking at Liverpool's alternative options, let's just pause for thought. Reina. Available. In January.
As Arsenal seem to have total faith in their two Polish goalies, the club at the front of any queue will surely be ManYoo.
Oooh errr.
AND THE LIST OF PROSPECTIVE REPLACEMENTS IS...
Ok, let's go back to the matter of who might replace Reina if he leaves.
The Daily Mirror, as you should have read above, reckons that Neuer is the number one target.
'The keeper has little more than a year left on his current contract with his German club Schalke 04, and has already interested Bayern Munich, but it is thought he would like a move abroad,' the paper adds. 'He fits the bill perfectly for Liverpool. Anfield's new owners NESV are keen subscribers to a more radical approach to recruitment, where they invest big money in key players who make a real difference.'
The Daily Telegraph is also weighing up the candidates and declares:
'Neuer, 24, the Germany international who is rated at around £12 million, seems the most natural fit because of his age and comparatively low price tag. At 28, Stekelenburg, of Ajax, does not comply with NESV's belief in buying young talent.
'For all of his undoubted quality, though, Neuer would face a considerable task in replacing Reina, who signed a six-year deal this year. The Spaniard has become one of the most influential figures in Liverpool's dressing room and is widely regarded as a future club captain.'
However, it should be noted that the paper is far from convinced that Reina will leave.
The Telegraph insists that 'New England Sports Ventures are determined to retain the Spain international and are confident they can mollify Reina by proving their ambitions match his own'.