Arsenal Plotting Surprise £5m Swoop for Liverpool Goalkeeper Pepe Reina

Arsenal are making a shock £5m bid to sign Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina in the summer transfer window, according to the Metro.

The report claims that the Gunners had made an offer three seasons ago when the Spanish international was the first choice shot-stopper at Anfield. However, the deal collapsed due to the Merseyside club's reluctance to sell to a direct Premier League rival.

The 31-year-old was sent out on a season-long loan to Serie A outfit Napoli last summer after the Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers recruited Simon Mignolet and promoted the Belgian international as his prime candidate in goal.

Although Reina will return to the Merseyside club once his duties with the Spain national team at the World Cup concludes, he is likely to be heading for the exit door permanently. Rodgers is unlikely to dislodge the former Sunderland man from goal, adding to the uncertainty as to where the former Barcelona and Villarreal keeper will be plying his trade in the upcoming campaign.

Reina, who enjoyed a stellar season in Italy, has admitted that he might consider moving back to Spain if any La Liga outfit come seeking his services. Napoli manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that his compatriot's wages are unaffordable for the Serie A outfit.

The Metro's report also suggests that the Gunners are willing to offer Reina a chance to continue playing in the Premier League and their manager Arsene Wenger believes a bid of £5m will be enough to persuade the Merseyside club.

The Frenchman, who signed a three-year contract last month, is looking to sign a goalkeeper before the start of next season. The 64-year-old is left only with Wojciech Szczesny as Lukasz Fabianski moved to Swansea after seeing out his contract with the north London club.

Meanwhile, a report by the Express claims that Wenger is making an improved £8m offer for Cardiff City's David Marshall after an initial £6m bid was rejected by the Welsh side. If a move for the 29-year-old Glaswegian to the Emirates is successful then Reina's future will once again hang in the balance.

Reina still has two years left in his contract with Liverpool and Rodgers would consider selling him this summer only if a suitable offer is tabled.