Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop believes a move from Aston Villa to sign Pepe Reina would ‘work very well’ with the Villans in the midst of a goalkeeping crisis.
Tom Heaton is set to miss the remainder of the campaign after suffering knee ligament damage in the team’s win at Burnley earlier this month, leaving the club without their established shot-stoppers heading into the business end of the season, with Jed Steer also suffering injury problems this term.
As a result, ex-Liverpool ‘keeper Reina has been linked with a Premier League return, with his agent confirming talks as per Sky Italia (via TalkSPORT).
Currently warming the bench at AC Milan, the 37-year-old has been touted as a fine solution to their problems between the sticks by Hislop, who told ESPN FC that he could also bring a much-needed maturity to a Villa team desperate for results in the second half of the season in order to secure their Premier League status.
He said: “That would work very well. Given his experience, albeit with clubs at the top end of the table, he’s been there, seen it and done it. I still think [he’s] a very good goalkeeper.
“[Coming] into Aston Villa, [he] maybe brings that maturity, brings a steady head that Aston Villa maybe need as they get ready for this relegation fight that will occupy all their thoughts between now and the end of the season.
“Maybe he makes a difference. I think Pepe Reina would be a wonderful deputy.”
One would imagine that Reina would arrive at Villa Park as the main candidate to replace Heaton, despite Orjan Nyland’s vow to take his chance in the meantime. Having recorded 134 clean sheets during his time in the Premier League with Liverpool, Reina certainly seems to have the required qualifications for the role.
Though behind what is currently the league’s third-worst defence, the Spaniard may have his work cut out to add to his impressive tally of shutouts. Hislop’s suggestion that he would be a hit for Dean Smith’s side suggests he may be a better alternative to Nyland in any case, though only time may tell with the stakes so high for the Villans at present.
Villa fans, is Reina the answer to your goalkeeping woes? Let us know what you think below!
