Newcastle United

Newcastle must sell before pushing for Reina deal – journalist

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Newcastle United must sell one of their current goalkeepers before pushing for a deal to sign Pepe Reina, according to a reliable journalist.

Mark Douglas of the Newcastle Chronicle claimed on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon that the Premier League club would need to ‘sell at least one goalkeeper’ before going ahead with a move for the Spanish stopper.

Reina, 34, has been strongly linked with a potential reunion with manager Rafa Benitez this summer, after a reported fall-out with the president of his current club, Napoli.

The Sun have claimed that the former Liverpool ace is set to be sold by the Italian club after a social media row between president Aurelio de Laurentiis and Reina’s wife.

De Laurentiis is said to have madeĀ a jokeĀ about Reina’s ‘off-field distractions’ during a dinner party, which saw the goalkeeper’s wife storm out.

His potential availability has alerted Benitez over a possible summer move to Newcastle, but Chronicle journalist Douglas suggests that a move won’t be possible until Benitez axes one of his current goalkeepers.

Tim Krul spent last season on loan in his native Holland, but his return to St. James’ Park ahead of the new season leaves Benitez with as many as four senior goalkeepers within the first-team squad.

Newcastle already have Rob Elliot, Karl Darlow and Matz Sels at their disposal, and funding a deal for Reina would be doubtful unless first trimming the competition.

Darlow was Benitez’s preferred first-choice stopper last season, where he kept 15 clean sheets from 36 appearances in all competitions.

However, their return to the Premier League could see the Newcastle chief to one of his trusted former stars who has years of top flight experience under his belt.

Reina, who has one year left to run on his current deal at Napoli, kept 14 clean sheets from 48 appearances last season.

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