Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez will be denied the chance to reunite with his former Liverpool and Napoli goalkeeper at St James’ Park.
Pepe Reina will be a Serie A player next season but not with Napoli. According to Tuttosport, the veteran goalkeeper has already agreed a pre-contract to join AC Milan at the end of the season, when his deal at the Stadio San Paolo runs out.
Benitez knows his fellow Spaniard Reina very well, having worked with him at both Napoli and Liverpool. And it is understood that the 57-year-old was considering a new approach to reunite with the 2010 World Cup winner at St James’ Park having failed to sign him in each of the last two transfer windows.
But missing out on Reina for good should not be seen as the bitter disappointment it has been portrayed as.
The Chronicle reports that Newcastle are likely to make Martin Dubravka’s loan move from Sparta Prague permanent, and the fact that they are already putting these plans in place after the goalkeeper first two appearances in English football shows how impressive he has been.
Dubravka, who can sign for Newcastle for £5.2 million, was brilliant on debut in the 1-0 win against Manchester United and enhanced his reputation again despite the Magpies throwing away a two-goal lead to draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.
Beyond Dubravka, Newcastle also boast the highly-rated Freddie Woodman while Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow have proven themselves to be decent Premier League goalkeepers of late, too.
Benitez may have been denied that reunion with Reina, but Newcastle are not exactly lacking in goalkeeping options.
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