Despite being something of an Anfield legend, Liverpool fans have been forced to sit and watch Pepe Reina’s steady decline over the last two-or-three seasons.
The Spanish shot-stopper was once the best keeper in the Premier League. Nowadays, however, he’s not so confident between the sticks and errors have begun to creep into his game.
Now let’s make one thing clear: Pepe Reina is still a class act and a top keeper. But I think we have to face facts. The best years of his career may well be behind him.
Still, he has enough left in the tank to interest the likes of Barcelona and given his slow (but steady) decline, maybe it’s time for the Reds to consider selling.
But if his Liverpool career is to end this summer, Brendan Rodgers needs to make certain that he secures the best possible deal for his Spanish keeper.
With this in mind, I was particularly intrigued to see The Mirror claim that Liverpool are looking to trade Reina for Barcelona’s tricky winger, Cristian Tello.
Wouldn’t this deal make a lot of sense for the Reds? Rodgers will lose a player who is probably only going to get worse and receive a player who will only get better.
The 21-year-old Spaniard is rumoured to have a release clause set around £8.5m. Liverpool are holding out for at least £10m for Reina. The Reds could pull off this swap deal and receive a little pocket money as well.
The fleet-footed forward has appeared on 32 different occassions for Barca this season and scored 8 goals. That’s not too shabby for a player so young, at a club so big, with team mates of such stature. He’s by no means in awe of his surroundings and looks destined for big things.
I also think he’d fit in nicely at Anfield. The Reds could use a little pace down the wings and Tello could offer this and then some. He’d speed up Liverpool’s approach play and open defenses by taking full-backs on and attacking the space behind the back-four.
If he really does have a release clause, Liverpool should strike soon. There are bound to be plenty of other interested parties. If that means saying goodbye to Reina, so be it.
What’s your take? Should Liverpool swap Pepe Reina for Cristian Tello?
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Nonsense
Yes they would it doesn’t surprise me barcelona management are really stupid they are known to make bad deals. Tello isn’t great but if he gets more time on loan and change his style of play he can be great and pepe reina is getting older and makes to many mistakes y not trade Valdes for another younger goalie. Hey that’s barca
swap him! weve still got gulacsi.
It would be a good deal for LFC is we get a perfect replacement for Pepe…someone in the class of Julio ceasar. Yes and indeed, Tello is good prospect! YNWA
Dear Harry
Even if we take your daft argument, that Pepe’s best years are behind him, to be true and therefore the best thing to do is to exchange him with an upcoming Barca prospect, would you mind enlightening us as to who should be his replacement in goal and how much are we gonna pay for him ( with a limited transfer kitty)?
dont you go the match or watch liverpool, from jan he has been improving all the time i would say hes getting to his best again so shit story
Seriously check the statistics Reina is in 3rd for clean sheets this year, one behind Cech and 4 behind Joe Hart, Reina cost the best part of 20 mil. we would be crazy to sell him for 10 when he is clearly in great form. Keepers cost a shit load in the window, we wouldn’t pull in a keeper of his quality for less than 20 million, which by the way is our entire transfer budget, minus player sales. Wake up and smell your bullshit.
Is everyone serious here? Tello all the way! This guy is pure class! Coutinho on one side and Tello in the other with Suarez in the middle!
Are you serious?
Yeah and no decent keeper you dickhead
So it’s game over prick
Tello is not for sale. He has also rejected Liverpool more thsn once. He wants to continue at Camp Nou and is also highly valued by coach Vilanova.
Oh, Barça are not interested in Pepe Reina. That’s something English press have invented. They are looking for a younger keeper. Most probably Marc-André Ter Stegen from M’gladbach.
Very stupit deal dat is abt 2 happn is reina a good kipper
Yes, Sergi is correct as far as we know. In any case, it would be a terrible deal for Barça… and young and quickly rising striker than could become world-class in a year or two, or a decent goalkeeper approaching the end of his career (and a downgrade on Valdes)?
Barça will indeed be looking at Guaita, Ter Stegen, or possibly Lloris it seems. There are various rumours for other less-known keepers too, but unlikely I’d think.
I think this could be a great deal for liverpool fc as they need new blood on that squed and re-inforce a striking partnership if they about to chace top four next season