Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina is set to be offered a new contract by the Italian club in an attempt to ward off interest from Newcastle, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper report on the live transfer blog on their website on Wednesday (10:04) that the 34-year-old Spanish goalkeeper, who is out of contract next summer, will be offered the opportunity to remain at Napoli for another year.
This move appears to have been made in order to deter Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez from pursuing a reunion with his former goalkeeper, who played under the 67-year-old for five years at Liverpool.
The news is the second transfer blow for the Magpies in less than 24 hours, with the Mirror reporting on Tuesday night that the Tyneside club have lost out to Swansea in the race for Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham.
However, a move for Reina is not yet dead in the water, with the Mirror claiming that the new contract will include a release clause which would allow the North East side to snap up the goalkeeper for less than £1million.
They say Napoli will include an agreement which would mean he would be free to open talks with clubs if they made a bid of £883,950 (€1million).
Benitez is in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer, despite having five stoppers at his disposal, four of whom have international experience, and the Magpies have been linked with West Ham’s Adrian and free agent Willy Caballero, who will be leaving Manchester City.
He is also looking to offload at least one of his current shot stoppers, with Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels on the verge of a loan move to Anderlecht, as reported by HLN.