Pepe Reina is back on Arsene Wenger’s radar as Liverpool buy Simon Mignolet
James Olley
26 June 2013
Arsenal are monitoring Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina’s situation after the Anfield club completed a £9million deal for Simon Mignolet.
Reina has publicly stated his intention to remain on Merseyside and fight for his first-team place but there is uncertainty over his future amid rumours manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to install Mignolet as his No1 next season.
It is understood that Reina, 30, will hold talks with Rodgers once the Spaniard’s participation at the Confederations Cup is over and the Gunners have asked to be kept informed of any developments regarding the player’s availability.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains a keen admirer of Reina, having tried to sign him two seasons ago, and he is considering a number of options as he looks to provide competition for Wojciech Szczesny.
With the Gunners restructuring their wage bill after releasing a number of highly-paid players including Andrey Arshavin, Denilson and Sebastien Squillaci, Reina’s £110,000-a-week wages will not pose a problem.
At this stage, Reina looks more likely to remain at Liverpool and assess his alternatives in January but Arsenal are among several clubs who may revive their interest in him should it become clear he might leave the club before then. Barcelona are keen on Reina, who came through the ranks at the Camp Nou, and a move to Catalonia has additional appeal because his father, Miguel, also played for the club.
Arsenal were interested in Barca’s current No1, Victor Valdes, but have turned their attentions elsewhere after he stated he wanted to see out the final year of his contract. Stoke’s Asmir Begovic, Rene Adler, of Hamburg and Queens Park Rangers’ Julio Cesar have all been scouted by the Gunners.
No move for a goalkeeper is close at this moment but Wenger is hopeful Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival at Real Madrid will help seal their bid to sign striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Real president Florentino Perez had been reluctant to sanction Higuain’s departure until the club had a new manager in place following Jose Mourinho’s exit.
The clubs are close to finalising a £22m fee and Ancelotti is unlikely to stand in the way should all parties agree terms. Juventus were also keen on Higuain but they are unlikely to increase their original offer of £19m after agreeing a £10m deal with Manchester City to sign Carlos Tevez, as revealed in Standard Sport last week.
Wenger is also still weighing up whether to activate Marouane Fellaini’s £23m release clause at Everton.
Ancelotti’s arrival in Madrid coincides with Laurent Blanc appointment as his successor at Paris St-Germain.
It is significant that Blanc has been handed only a one-year contract with an option to extend into a second season. The suggestion that Ancelotti’s replacement would be offered a short-term deal has played a role in several other candidates rejecting PSG’s advances, including Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas.
PSG are keen to ensure there are no obstacles to appointing Wenger when his current contract expires in 2014, even though the 63-year-old Frenchman has hinted that he will sign an extension to remain in north London.
Wenger is, however, yet to commit himself beyond next summer and PSG hope another trophyless season in England could be enough to convince him it is time for a change.
Arsenal’s hierarchy are keen to tie Wenger down to a new deal and a positive start to next season would help that process.
James Olley
26 June 2013
Arsenal are monitoring Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina’s situation after the Anfield club completed a £9million deal for Simon Mignolet.
Reina has publicly stated his intention to remain on Merseyside and fight for his first-team place but there is uncertainty over his future amid rumours manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to install Mignolet as his No1 next season.
It is understood that Reina, 30, will hold talks with Rodgers once the Spaniard’s participation at the Confederations Cup is over and the Gunners have asked to be kept informed of any developments regarding the player’s availability.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains a keen admirer of Reina, having tried to sign him two seasons ago, and he is considering a number of options as he looks to provide competition for Wojciech Szczesny.
With the Gunners restructuring their wage bill after releasing a number of highly-paid players including Andrey Arshavin, Denilson and Sebastien Squillaci, Reina’s £110,000-a-week wages will not pose a problem.
At this stage, Reina looks more likely to remain at Liverpool and assess his alternatives in January but Arsenal are among several clubs who may revive their interest in him should it become clear he might leave the club before then. Barcelona are keen on Reina, who came through the ranks at the Camp Nou, and a move to Catalonia has additional appeal because his father, Miguel, also played for the club.
Arsenal were interested in Barca’s current No1, Victor Valdes, but have turned their attentions elsewhere after he stated he wanted to see out the final year of his contract. Stoke’s Asmir Begovic, Rene Adler, of Hamburg and Queens Park Rangers’ Julio Cesar have all been scouted by the Gunners.
No move for a goalkeeper is close at this moment but Wenger is hopeful Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival at Real Madrid will help seal their bid to sign striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Real president Florentino Perez had been reluctant to sanction Higuain’s departure until the club had a new manager in place following Jose Mourinho’s exit.
The clubs are close to finalising a £22m fee and Ancelotti is unlikely to stand in the way should all parties agree terms. Juventus were also keen on Higuain but they are unlikely to increase their original offer of £19m after agreeing a £10m deal with Manchester City to sign Carlos Tevez, as revealed in Standard Sport last week.
Wenger is also still weighing up whether to activate Marouane Fellaini’s £23m release clause at Everton.
Ancelotti’s arrival in Madrid coincides with Laurent Blanc appointment as his successor at Paris St-Germain.
It is significant that Blanc has been handed only a one-year contract with an option to extend into a second season. The suggestion that Ancelotti’s replacement would be offered a short-term deal has played a role in several other candidates rejecting PSG’s advances, including Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas.
PSG are keen to ensure there are no obstacles to appointing Wenger when his current contract expires in 2014, even though the 63-year-old Frenchman has hinted that he will sign an extension to remain in north London.
Wenger is, however, yet to commit himself beyond next summer and PSG hope another trophyless season in England could be enough to convince him it is time for a change.
Arsenal’s hierarchy are keen to tie Wenger down to a new deal and a positive start to next season would help that process.
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