As Newcastle revive Pepe Reina interest, could Rob Elliot leave St James’ Park?

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Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina is once again at the top of Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United wishlist so what does this mean for Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow?

Pepe Reina may be 35 these days, but the Spaniard remains a top class goal-keeper even in the autumn of his career.

So after failing to lure his former Liverpool shot-stopper back to England during a frustrating summer, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is not willing to accept defeat just yet.

As reported by the Sun, Benitez has a rather meagre budget of just £10 million to work with, and Reina is the player he wants to spend his money on, with Napoli asking for a substantial fee for the former Bayern Munich and Valencia custodian.

The goalkeeping position is a long running problem for Benitez, who has rotated Karl Darlow and Rob Elliott this season, with neither looking particularly up to Premier League standards.

And with youngster Freddie Woodman waiting in the wings, it would not be a surprise to see one of Darlow or Elliot leave this month if Reina does finally make the move to Tyneside.

Former Nottingham Forest youngster Darlow was heavily tipped to depart during the summer, the Sun even stating that Newcastle were willing to sell him to local rivals Middlesbrough.

But the Guardian reports that the Magpies are now hoping to extend Darlow’s contract despite his current deal having two-and-a-half years yet to run. That is quite the show of faith in a ‘keeper who has never really established himself as Newcastle’s undisputed first-choice during Benitez’s two-year reign.

So perhaps Elliot is the ‘keeper most at risk from the potential signing of Reina this month.