Liverpool
goalkeeper
Pepe Reina could complete a £22 million move to
arch-rivals Manchester United
in the summer, according to a
report in The Sun.
United are in the market for a new No.1 to succeed Edwin van der
Sar, who has announced his intention to retire at the end of this
season. They have been linked with a host of leading keepers,
including Atletico Madrid prodigy David De Gea, Maarten
Stekelenburg of Ajax and Schalke's Manuel Neuer.
This latest report, of a possible move for Liverpool's Reina, is
likely to ruffle feathers at Anfield.
But the Reds are losing patience with the Spaniard, who has
refused to commit his future to the club and appears to many to
want out of Merseyside.
The 28-year-old signed a six-year deal with the club last April,
but within two months was reportedly seeking a £15m move to
Arsenal, which Liverpool rejected.
It is now claimed that, following Fernando Torres' transfer to
Chelsea, Reina's agent is scrutinising the goalkeeper's contract
for an exit clause similar to the one his international team-mate
used to get out of Anfield.
However, Reina has stated that his Liverpool future will depend
upon where they finish they season, as he seeks a return to
Champions League football.
Liverpool's new owners have already underlined their ambition,
breaking consecutive transfer records with the £22.8m acquisition
of Luis Suarez from Ajax and the £35m purchase of Andrew Carroll
from Newcastle.
Arsenal are expected to compete fiercely for Reina's signature,
as they seek an experienced shot-stopper in the wake of costly
errors by Manuel Almunia, Lucasz Fabianski and newcomer Wojciech
Szczesny, whose mix-up with Laurent Koscielny last week cost the
Gunners their chance of a first trophy in six years.