Arsenal should clamber to sign this keeper at a bargain price
Published:There are few keepers who, at the peak of their powers and respected across the continent, are available at such a bargain price as £4m.
That’s exactly the situation that on-loan Napoli keeper Pepe Reina will be in this summer, after Rafael Benitez revealed there is a clause in the Spaniard’s contract that means he can sign for any suitor for that fee after the 2013/14 season.
A return to Liverpool, who are 9/2 to win the Premier League with new keeper Simon Mignolet in goal, looks unlikely with Brendan Rodgers preferring a younger stopper, so which three clubs should be scarpping to claim the signature of the 2006 FA Cup winner?
Arsenal
While Wojciech Szczesny has improved immensely he is still prone to the odd lapse of composure, as shown in his rash challenge in getting sent off against Bayern Munich recently.
The chance to sign a decorated keeper who rarely falters, and at a knock down price too, will surely appeal to Wenger, who surely must target a new net-minder if he wants to improve the Gunners’ current 20/1-rated title chances.
Barcelona
When Manchester United signed David De Gea they knew he’d be their goalkeeper for years to come. However at such a young age they couldn’t expect him to be ultra-reliable from the off and brought in Anders Lindegaard to supplement that.
That’s exactly the route Blaugrana could take after Victor Valdes takes flight. German keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is rumoured to be the man to replace Valdes, but aged just 21 he would need an experienced head to deputise for him. Enter Reina.
Atletico Madrid
If a move back to his boyhood club doesn’t materialise, then Reina could well land at Atletico Madrid.
Diego Simeone’s 8/1-shots for the La Liga title this season have relied on the borrowed talents of Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois for three seasons now and the Belgian has made it clear he wants to return to Stamford Bridge to challenge Petr Cech’s monopoly on the Blues’ gloves.
Should that become a reality then there’s few better options than the Spaniard, who has conceded just 29 goals in Serie A this season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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