Liverpool’s Pepe Reina and Barcelona’s Victor Valdes on Arsenal Radar – Report
Arsenal are keen to secure the services of a Spanish goalkeeper in the summer but it seems they are unsure whether to move for Liverpool's Pepe Reina or Barcelona number one Victor Valdes.
The Daily Mail has reported that runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona are expecting an offer from Arsenal after Valdes made it clear that he would not be renewing his contract which ends in the summer of 2014.
It is thought that the Spanish club may decide to listen to offers at the end of the season rather than waiting another year when Valdes would be allowed to leave the club on a free transfer.
Barcelona have previously profited by signing players from Arsenal with Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Theirry Henry, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Alexander Hleb all making the move to the Catalan club from north London.
In more recent times Arsenal lost Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song to Barcelona but now it seems they are hoping Valdes will consider a move in the opposite direction.
The Mail believes that while Valdes may be available for £8.5million, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has also shown an interest in Reina who has returned to form for Liverpool in recent weeks.
Wenger is believed to be interested in securing the services of a more established number one as Wokciech Szczesny has made several high-profile errors this season.
The Poland international has very little competition at the Emirates with Lukasz Fabianski having fallen completely out of favour, while Damian Martinez and Vito Mannone are yet to prove themselves at the highest level.
Szczesny has plenty of time to further develop his game and learning under the likes of Reina or Valdes may well help him improve.
However, while it is clear that Valdes will eventually leave Barcelona, Reina has suggested that he is happy at Liverpool and there is little to suggest that manager Brendan Rodgers would want to lose the vastly experienced Spaniard.
The 30-year-old put in an outstanding display in the 4-0 victory over Wigan but was ruled out of the Tottenham game because of a calf problem.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.