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Reina deal is off so should Newcastle battle West Ham for Hart?

England's Joe Hart during training (REUTERS)
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Pepe Reina is set to sign a new contract with Napoli so should Newcastle turn their attention to Man City ‘keeper and West Ham target, Joe Hart?

Newcastle United look set to miss out on yet another goalkeeper target with the Chronicle reporting Pepe Reina is about to sign a new new contract at Napoli.

Magpies boss Rafa Benitez is keen to sign a new stopper this summer as his team prepare for life back in the Premier League and Reina has been on his wishlist for some time.

Pepe ReinaPepe Reina

However, after entering the final year of his current deal at the Stadio San Paolo, the Spaniard will now commit to another 12 months to keep him with the Serie A outfit until 2019.

That will come as a blow to Benitez – who previously managed Reina at Liverpool and Napoli – who has seen another target in Willy Caballero choose Chelsea ahead of Newcastle as well.

Yet there is one experienced ‘keeper on the market that the North East club could possibly sign, with the BBC saying that Joe Hart is preparing to leave Manchester City and that West Ham United are currently leading the way for his signature.

Hart has fallen out of favour at the Etihad Stadium and spent last season on loan at Torino, but has twice been named in the PFA Team of the Year previously and has 71 caps for England.

Still only 30-years-old, there may be some concerns over the Englishman’s decline over the past 12 months, but there are still few with as much Premier League experience.

Also, with the Telegraph claiming that West Ham would prefer a loan deal for Hart while City are holding out for a permanent transfer, there could still be time for Newcastle to sneak ahead of the Hammers in the race.

England's Joe Hart during trainingEngland’s Joe Hart during training