Liverpool may have to pay big to replace AC Milan target Reina
Published:With Euro 2012 now over, sorting out the future of Pepe Reina will be towards the top of the agenda for Brendan Rodgers as the Spanish goalkeeper has been linked with a switch to AC Milan.
Despite winning three major tournaments with Spain, Reina’s trophy cabinet at domestic level has hardly been topped up in recent years.
Liverpool’s Carling Cup success on penalties over Cardiff last season is his only domestic trophy in six seasons.
Milan know they need to strengthen after losing out on the Serie A title to Juventus, but the possibilities of silverware certainly seem more likely at the Italian giants than at Liverpool.
Rodgers became known at Swansea for his keep-ball philosophy and Reina has been one of the best in the Premier League for starting attacks.
Therefore, he may be deemed as pivotal to Liverpool’s chances of re-establishing themselves in the top four this season.
The question mark is that more unforced errors did creep into Reina’s game last season and the decision may be made that he can be replaced.
If he was allowed to leave for Milan, one option would be France stopper Hugo Lloris, who is allowed to leave Lyon for “a decent price in relation to the market”, according to club president Jean-Michel Aulas.
Lyon notoriously drive tough bargains for their top players, with Chelsea paying close to £40m for Florent Malouda and Michael Essien and Karim Benzema potentially setting Real Madrid back £35m.
Lloris would not cost as much as this, but it would be no surprise if Lyon demanded somewhere in the region of £15m.
The big competition may come from Arsenal, who are the other club that appear to have been alerted by Lloris’ availability, if reports in France are to be believed.
