Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina’s move to Napoli is on the verge of falling through, according to fresh reports in the Italian media.
The 31-year-old, who spent last season on loan in Naples, is available for transfer after losing his place in the Reds side to Belgium international Simon Mignolet.
However, Italian source Il Mattino claims weeks of negotiations have only reached a deadlock, as the Serie A club wants to take the Spaniard on loan and the Premier League heavyweights would prefer to sell him outright during the summer transfer window.
The report reveals that Napoli’s interest in Reina is beginning to cool, not least because their current shot-stopper Rafael is on the comeback trail from injury and is expected to be fit in time for the start of the 2014-15 campaign.
Reina still has two years remaining on his contract and is one of Liverpool’s longest-serving players, but his future on Merseyside appears to be bleak as long as head coach Brendan Rodgers is at the helm.
His beat days for the club came when current Napoli boss Rafael Benitez was in charge, and the pair were reunited during the goalkeeper’s loan spell last term.
Benitez had hoped to secure a double swoop for Reina and his team-mate Lucas Leiva, with a deal for the Brazil international looking more likely.