Liverpool: Pepe Reina Exit Speculation Is Nonsense
March 29, 2011
After the Fernando Torres saga that Liverpool fans had to deal with in the winter transfer window, you can forgive us for feeling a little relieved that things seemed to have turned out OK.
The Spaniard is struggling for goals at Chelsea while Luis Suarez has rekindled the imagination of fans at Anfield with his all-action displays and weaselly cunning.
We have barely seen anything of Andy Carroll but Liverpool has managed to replace our previous goal-scoring talisman with suitable talent.
Unfortunately, it seems that transfer rumours just won't go away and now our steadfast goal custodian Pepe Reina has a massive question mark poised over his shiny bald head.
For once it isn't Chelsea who are attempting to poach a top Liverpool player, but Manchester United and Arsenal who have been linked to Reina.
There's yet to be any sort of concrete evidence whatsoever that indicates genuine interest from either club save a supposed "massive bid" from the Gunners from last summer.
With the impending retirement of Edwin Van der Sar and the goalkeeper circus showing no signs of slowing down at the Emirates, it's no surprise that Reina's name has come up, but Liverpool fans really have no reason to worry.
In the case of Manchester United's interest, a big-money bid for Reina doesn't fit in with the club's new "youth-focused" transfer policy.
The Premier League's leaders could very well be a team in transition in the near future, and the relatively cut-price capture of Javier Hernandez, Bébé and Chris Smalling are evidence of this strategy.
Meeting the goalkeeper's £25 million valuation would take too big of a bite from United's war chest which will need to address the gaping hole in central midfield, especially with Owen Hargreaves on his way out the door.
Names such as Maarten Stekelenburg, Manuel Neuer and most recently David De Gea of Atletico Madrid are being thrown around Old Trafford and each of these are infinitely more likely to be making their way to United than Reina.
Dutch side Ajax had a history of selling their talent when the right price comes along, and after strutting his stuff under the big lights at the World Cup this summer, I think Stekelenburg is at the head of this particular list.
There's no question that Pepe Reina would be a massive asset to a club like Arsenal, who have been crying out for a dependable goalkeeper since David Seaman retired, but this transfer will never happen.
Arsene Wenger has clearly lost his mind, as indicated by the return of "Mad" Jens Lehmann to the club.
This is only a temporary deal and is largely due to the injury of Wojciech Szczęsny who (Carling Cup aside) has been so impressive for the London club.
Wenger rates the young Polish goalkeeper very highly, and it is unlikely that he will stay at the club if a more experienced goalie is brought in ahead of him.
Furthermore, splashing out big money on a player just isn't the Arsenal way. Andre Arshavin aside, when was the last time Wenger opened his wallet for a brand name?
And we all know how little money he likes to spend on defensive players in the first place.
Reina's experience, shot-stopping ability and clever distribution would perfectly fit into the Gunners style, but seeing Reina turn out at the Emirates is less likely than a move to Manchester United.
Has there been any other speculation?
Peter Cech won't be displaced at Chelsea anytime soon, Joe Hart and Shay Given are more than enough for Manchester City, and Heurelho Gomes fits too well into the everlasting drama at White Hart Lane.
Pepe Reina isn't going anywhere this summer, but even if he did, Liverpool fans don't have much need to worry as club owner John Henry has proven himself to be no pushover in the transfer market.
Liverpool's price for Fernando Torres was going to be whatever what was needed to pry Andy Carroll from Newcastle, therefore any transfer business for Reina will only be concluded after a suitable replacement has been identified and captured.
Pepe Reina is one of the longest-serving members of this current Liverpool team, and aside from being one of the best goalkeepers in the world, he is a firm favorite with the Anfield faithful.
Transfer rumors will always swirl around names such as his, but there is nothing to indicate the Spaniard is anywhere close to an exit door.