Liverpool are currently in the process of re-building. Re-building bridges with the fans and re-building the team to make it competitive once more. In order to make this happen, they’ll need to keep hold of all their best players, as well as making sensible signings this summer. That may not end up being as easy a task as was first assumed.
According to the Daily Mail, AC Milan are weighing up a move for Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Their current number one, Christian Abbiati is getting on in years (he’s 34-years-old) and his performances have begun to slip. It’s beginning to look as though Milan are actively pursuing a replacement.
Whilst Reina has never shown any signs of dissent or discomfort at Liverpool, you do wonder what effect this Milan link – if there’s any truth to it – will have on his mindset. Milan may not have won the Serie A last season, but they’re still a Champions League club with ambitions of winning titles, signing major players and building a world-beating team.
Can Liverpool say the same thing? At 29-years-old Reina may well view this as an opportunity for one last major contract.
There’s little doubting Reina’s importance to Liverpool. He’s rightly regarded as one of the best keepers in the Premier League. Though he’s probably slipped behind Joe Hart in the rankings (I’m sure some Red’s fans will disagree!) we all know how reliable he is. He’s commanding, can save penalties, claim crosses and he’s one of world football’s best shot stoppers.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find quality keepers – especially youthful ones. Manchester United spent £20m on David de Gea only to find that he’s got a long way to go before meeting the standards of former goalkeepers like Edwin van der Sar. Arsenal fans still hold that they’ve got a real catch in the form of Wojciech Szczesny, but his mistakes for Poland and throughout the last season must raise serious question marks.
By underlining the importance of the modern day goalkeeper, it should be clear that Liverpool need to keep hold of Reina. Good old reliable Reina. It’s true that they’re going through a re-building process. Brendan Rodgers simply does not need the additional headache of having to hunt down a new keeper.
So let’s hope that Liverpool stamp their feet on this one – or better yet, that it’s just another nonsense rumour.
What’s your take? Can Liverpool afford to let Reina go?
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