There’s been a fair amount speculation regarding the future of Liverpool’s world-class goalkeeper and Premier League mainstay, Pepe Reina. Whether he will still be at the club once the January transfer window closes, remains to be seen.
The Spaniard has dipped in form this season and looks to be a shadow of his former self. Before Joe Hart’s rise to prominence, Reina was tied with Petr Cech for the honour of being the Premier League’s best goalkeeper.
He commanded his penalty area with such assurance, made smart decisions and was a fine shot-stopper. More than anything else, it seemed like he had a sensible head on his shoulders and this had the knock-on effect of filling Liverpool defenders with the confidence to play well. He engineered trust within what was already a pretty fantastic back-four.
For what it’s worth, I still consider him to be one of the best goalies in the League, but it’s clear that something’s missing from his game. He’s doesn’t inspire confidence anymore. Mistakes are a more common part of his game and his heart doesn’t seem to be in it quite so much.
So it’s intriguing to see that Liverpool have lined up Asmir Begovic as a potential transfer target. What does this mean for the club?
The Sun claim that Brendan Rodgers sees Begovic as a long-term replacement for Pepe Reina. The Stoke City star has put in a number of assured performances thus far this season and may well be able to take the step-up to a top club like Liverpool. He cost the Potters £4.5m back in 2010 and Tony Pulis would probably have to make a significant return on his investment if he is to be tempted into selling.
But good goalkeepers don’t come cheap. Manchester United spent £20m on David De Gea and he has had an uncertain time at Old Trafford. Begovic may represent a decent option, with Premier League experience and an affordable price-tag.
What’s most intriguing however, is that this rumour has popped up whilst there is so much speculation regarding Reina’s future. If Rodgers is really weighing up his options in the goalkeeping department, then perhaps Reina is on his way out?
My only concern is that however you look at it, Begovic would be a step-down from Reina. He may well go on to be a world-beater (he’s just 25-years-old) but can Liverpool afford to wait for him to make this transition?
The best solution would be to keep hold of Pepe Reina for another season or two and then replace him with a player like Begovic. Whether Brendan can pull this off, however, remains to be seen.
What’s your take? Should Liverpool be in the market for Begovic? Should they let go of Reina?
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