The Belgian goal-keeper Simon Mignolet is the current first choice shot-stopper for Brendan Rodgers for Liverpool but after conceding 9 goals in 6 Premier League matches, the defence of Liverpool is being a target of criticism and Mignolet is being put into question as if he’s good enough to be the undisputed option for a club that is struggling to pick up consistent victories.
Pepe Reina is the former irrefutable goal-keeper of Liverpool but his relationship with Brendan Rodgers is believed to have started to fall apart ever since Reina was being linked with a move to Barcelona as the Spanish player wanted to join Barcelona but a deal could never be completed and he instead joined Napoli.
A few months after joining Napoli, Pepe Reina revealed to the public that his career with Liverpool was over as they had signed Simon Mignolet and the Belgian player was in the plans of Brendan Rodgers but Pepe Reina wasn’t.
Reina went on to join Bayern Munich where he still has not been able to make a competitive appearance for the German club as they already have Manuel Neuer as their first choice player in between the posts.
Unless Manuel Neuer picks up an injury or something happens to him, it does not seem like Pepe Reina will be appearing into the main team of Bayern Munich anytime soon. Pepe Reina is still considered to be a top world class goal-keeper but he has to settle with a place on the sidelines of Bayern Munich with his chances of appearing into the main team being extremely limited and rare.
Liverpool is struggling in the Premier League with the defensive department of the club turning into a recent subject of criticism; the absence of Pepe Reina at Anfield is still being felt by his former teammates and club.

Leicester City’s return to the Premier League also says former Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky get back into the top flight once again. The 33-year-old is well-known for his Premier League days with the likes of West Ham, Fulham, and most recently Liverpool. However, he has been with Leicester for the last few years hoping for a day in the sunshine once again. This has come in the best possible manner after Leicester were promoted to the Premier League with a record points tally. As part of the pre-season preparations, Leicester have been involved in a friendly matches in the Far East.

They will be taking on Everton in a friendly match. Ahead of the encounter, Konchesky has said that he is very much looking forward to facing the Merseyside outfit, who will be one of their opponents in the coming campaign. Incidentally, Everton will be their first Premier league opponents, as Leicester prepared to host them in the first league match of the season. Roberto Martinez’ men will be providing a stern challenge on their return to the Premier league after they have strengthened the squad substantially in the summer. Romelu Lukaku has been brought from Chelsea on a permanent basis along with Gareth Barry.

Nigel Pearson’s team has also been active in the transfer window, but it seems that Konchesky will continue as the left back. “Hopefully, we will hit the ground running. With what the manager has added to last season’s squad, I think we have a great chance. We want to survive but our aim will be to push on beyond just finishing 17th. We are capable of it but first we have to stay in the league,” said the defender. Leicester have a couple of friendlies before they return to face Everton in the Premier League. This will be followed by a visit to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has claimed that his future will be decided in the next few weeks as he is set to hold talks with manager Brendan Rodgers. The Spaniard spent last season on loan at Napoli, but it is widely expected that the Italian club will not be signing the goalkeeper a permanent basis. This is due to the transfer fee demands of Liverpool. After signing Simon Mignolet from Sunderland for £ 9 million last season, it is looking highly unlikely that Reina will be able to play as a first-team regular for Liverpool again. The Belgian international will be the first choice goalkeeper in the new campaign.

Despite this, Reina is confident that some sort of agreement can be reached in the next few weeks of the transfer window, which may see him either stay at Anfield or move out on loan once again. Napoli have not totally ruled out the possibility of bringing back Reina, but Rafa Benitez recently claimed that he already has a number of good goalkeepers at his disposal. The 31-year-old recently made his debut for the Spanish national team after playing as the understudy for Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes all these years.

His first World Cup match also came in the debut against Australia. Reina featured in 30 matches for Napoli last season. “Without a team? I have one – Liverpool. I have a deal for another two years, even if I’ve not yet spoken with the coach to see what his plans are. Now I’m set to end my holidays and my agent is charged to do these things. I have not thought about this a lot this season. Last summer – it’s true – there have been contacts, but during the last season I kept my concentration on Napoli,” said Reina.

Pepe Reina has finally accepted the bitter truth that he will have to spend the next season at his parent club Liverpool only.

The Spanish international had played for the Italian Club Napoli on loan last season and had done fantastically well for them. He had made close to 150 saves in 45 appearances that he had made and thus, it was widely believed that Partenopei management would try to keep him for the 2014-15 Season as well. Reina himself had also expressed his desire to remain at Stadio San Paolo, but, a few days ago, Rafa Benitez, the Napoli boss, made it clear that his club had no intentions of securing the services of Reina on a permanent basis.

Speaking last week, Benitez said, “We are not looking to sign a goalie at the moment.”

According to the reports, the reason why Napoli decided to send Reina back to his parent club despite his match winning performances last season is his wages which are very high. They reckon that they can’t afford to pay that much money to him.

After Benitez’s statement that Napoli would not sign a shot stopper on a permanent basis in the near future, Reina had no option, but, to accept the fact that Liverpool would be his destination this summer.

Talking to the reporters yesterday, the 31-year old said, “I will have to make my way back to the Anfield for the time being. Apart from that, I don’t have anything else to tell you at this point of time.”

Reina was a certainty at Liverpool till the 2012-13 Season, but, after the arrival of Simon Mignolet last summer, he fell down the pecking order and was placed on loan to Napoli.
Reina has so far represented Liverpool in 285 League games.

Ever since Pepe Reina completed his loan move from Liverpool to Napoli on July of 2013, the Spanish goalkeeper has played a substantially important and consistent role in the Italian club.
Reina even declared that he has no future whatsoever in his former club Liverpool and considering all of the consistent as well as impressive performances from Reina in Napoli, now the club is interested in signing him on a permanent basis.

The Sporting director of the club Riccardo Bigon told the press: “Reina is a very important player both on the field and off. He has been fine in Naples, he has a very close relationship with Rafa Benitez and also his family has settled very well’’.

Pepe Reina expressed his satisfaction about winning his first silverware with Napoli as he told reporters: ‘’Lifting the trophy is not a minor triumph. In fact, I hope it can be the first of many trophies, though we need a more complete squad. It is a victory dedicated to the fans. The first part of the game was played very well and we pressed Fiorentina high up the field, then our opponents emerged over time.”

Napoli has secured the 3rd spot in the Italian League, Serie A which gives the team of Rafael Benitez the chance to play in the Champions League for the upcoming season and securing the services of Pepe Reina will surely increase their chances of playing against some of the best clubs and players across Europe.

Reina’s arrival to Napoli was an event that has taken a liking not only to the staff members of the club but the fans as well and even the president of Napoli Aurelio De Laurentiis, is aware of the impact that the former Liverpool player has made since making his way to the Serie A.
“I want him confirmed for next season. He was happy, for him it was a double reward.” The club president Aurelio De Laurentiis said.