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Pepe Reina to leave Liverpool and join old boss Rafa Benitez on a season-long loan at Napoli
Liverpool have agreed a season loan deal with Napoli for goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Having signed Simon Mignolet from Sunderland, the Merseyside club was willing to allow Reina to go elsewhere for first team football.
Pepe Reina to leave Liverpool and old boss Rafa Benitez on a season-long loan at Napoli
Adios, la: Pepe Reina is off to Italy and the Serie A Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Chris Bascombe10:36PM BST 19 Jul 2013
He travelled to Italy on Friday to be reunited with former manager Rafa Benitez. Liverpool will shave £4m a year off their wage bill should Reina agree terms but will hope to eventually make the deal permanent.
Reina was due to fly to Melbourne to join Liverpool's summer tour this weekend but the club called up rookie keeper Danny Ward instead.
During eight years at Anfield, Reina won the FA Cup and League Cup, but his form has been erratic in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, Luis Suarez is due to fly to Australia and resume his Liverpool career in the next 48 hours, following which he will hold further talks about his Anfield future.
The Uruguayan is expected to join his team mates having flown direct from Montevideo. It will be manager Brendan Rodgers’ first chance to meet Suarez face to face and convince him to stay at the club, but it is more likely the 26-year-old will reiterate his desire to leave.
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Suarez has enjoyed an extended absence since playing for his country in the Confederations Cup, but he has made his position clear in a series of interviews.
He said he was ‘waiting for the phone call that could change everything’ prior to returning to training, but as of Friday evening the intervention he was seeking had not arrived.
Liverpool say they have no reason to presume Suarez would disobey team instructions and fail to travel, but it will come as some relief for the club’s supporters to see their start striker back on the training pitch.
The rejection of Arsenal’s bid, which ultimately would have been worth £35 million, has been well documented and it is presumed an increased offer of £40 million is on the horizon.
Although a clause exists in Suarez’s contract which means he must be informed of such a bid, Rodgers has made it clear he does not believe it includes any stipulation about selling the player for a certain price. Rodgers said Suarez’s value is at least £55 million.
The Northern Irishman’s diplomatic skills now face their toughest test as he will hope he can convince Suarez to remain on Merseyside.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have extended a shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered until 2016. The current agreement, worth £20 million a season, was due to expire next year.
Liverpool have agreed a season loan deal with Napoli for goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Having signed Simon Mignolet from Sunderland, the Merseyside club was willing to allow Reina to go elsewhere for first team football.
Pepe Reina to leave Liverpool and old boss Rafa Benitez on a season-long loan at Napoli
Adios, la: Pepe Reina is off to Italy and the Serie A Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Chris Bascombe10:36PM BST 19 Jul 2013
He travelled to Italy on Friday to be reunited with former manager Rafa Benitez. Liverpool will shave £4m a year off their wage bill should Reina agree terms but will hope to eventually make the deal permanent.
Reina was due to fly to Melbourne to join Liverpool's summer tour this weekend but the club called up rookie keeper Danny Ward instead.
During eight years at Anfield, Reina won the FA Cup and League Cup, but his form has been erratic in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, Luis Suarez is due to fly to Australia and resume his Liverpool career in the next 48 hours, following which he will hold further talks about his Anfield future.
The Uruguayan is expected to join his team mates having flown direct from Montevideo. It will be manager Brendan Rodgers’ first chance to meet Suarez face to face and convince him to stay at the club, but it is more likely the 26-year-old will reiterate his desire to leave.
Related Articles
Rodgers: Suarez worth £55m 19 Jul 2013
Suarez will stay put, says Rodgers 18 Jul 2013
'Gerrard best summer signing' 15 Jul 2013
Suarez in Liverpool tour squad 16 Jul 2013
£40m key to luring Suarez to Arsenal 16 Jul 2013
Steven Gerrard extends Liverpool deal 15 Jul 2013
Suarez has enjoyed an extended absence since playing for his country in the Confederations Cup, but he has made his position clear in a series of interviews.
He said he was ‘waiting for the phone call that could change everything’ prior to returning to training, but as of Friday evening the intervention he was seeking had not arrived.
Liverpool say they have no reason to presume Suarez would disobey team instructions and fail to travel, but it will come as some relief for the club’s supporters to see their start striker back on the training pitch.
The rejection of Arsenal’s bid, which ultimately would have been worth £35 million, has been well documented and it is presumed an increased offer of £40 million is on the horizon.
Although a clause exists in Suarez’s contract which means he must be informed of such a bid, Rodgers has made it clear he does not believe it includes any stipulation about selling the player for a certain price. Rodgers said Suarez’s value is at least £55 million.
The Northern Irishman’s diplomatic skills now face their toughest test as he will hope he can convince Suarez to remain on Merseyside.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have extended a shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered until 2016. The current agreement, worth £20 million a season, was due to expire next year.
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