Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will press ahead with plans to sign a top goalkeeper this summer and his number one target is Pepe Reina. Wenger tried to sign the Liverpool favourite last summer according to former Gunner great Bob Wilson.
Wilson claimed Wenger sees Reina as, ‘the most consistent in the country’, and hinted at an offer to Liverpool in excess of £20million.“Arsene tried like mad to buy not only a goalkeeper, but what he considered to be the most consistent in the country – so he made a big bid for Pepe Reina”.
“That didn’t come out because that’s not Arsene Wenger’s way of doing it and it’s not Arsenal’s way of doing it, but he did attempt it.”
The Liverpool goalkeeper has commented recently on Liverpool’s need to challenge for trophies if he is stay at Anfield. Reina said on the Spanish radio station, Onda Cero. “It’s hard to see me returning to Spain. Barcelona and Madrid are the two teams you would aspire to in Spain and that’s impossible. [At United,] Edwin van der Sar is hanging up his gloves and people say that Arsenal are looking. I can’t do or say anything; I renewed my contract with Liverpool last year. But what a player wants, logically, is to challenge for titles.”
Wilson believes Arsenal could go back in for Reina in the summer as Liverpool look like finishing outside the Champions League places for a second successive season. Liverpool fans will be hoping that NESV transfer budget will be enough to persuade the Spanish number three to at least another season at Anfield.
John W. Henry and New American Sport Ventures are rumoured to be providing manger Kenny Dalglish with a £50 million war chest to improve the squad. Perhaps given the right singings Reina will decide to stay at Anfield and Liverpool fans won’t have to watch another hero playing in rival colours.
