Pepe Reina's Liverpool Future Takes New Twist

Pepe Reina looks set to return to Liverpool ahead of the new season after Napoli passed on making the Spanish goalkeeper's loan spell in Serie A permanent.

The 31 year old guided the club to the Copa Italia and third place domestically under former Reds manager Rafael Benitez during his season-long loan last term.

Napoli were keen to retain Reina beyond the end of the season however the club have failed to match Liverpool's asking price and the player's agent Manuel Garcia Quilon says he will have to return to Anfield.

"It's very difficult for Pepe to remain at Napoli," Manuel Garcia Quilon told ESPN.

"From June 30, he will return to Liverpool because they want to maximise his sale, and Napoli are not willing to spend what is required."

Reina made an inauspicious exit from Liverpool last summer, criticising the club for agreeing a loan deal behind his back, after he had signalled intent to re-join Barcelona.

Simon Mignolet was signed from Sunderland to contest the Liverpool No.1 jersey and after Reina's departure the Belgian went on to start every game of the club's Premier League campaign.

Though enduring a sporadically shaky debut season on Merseyside, Mignolet is firmly installed as first choice under Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers and given the angry parting of ways between Reina and the club, his future appears to be bleak.

After Victor Valdes decided to stay on for a further season last year, Barcelona have this summer replaced him with Germany stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Given that Barcelona are covered in the role and Napoli don't possess the finances to sign Reina, the Spain international has little choice but to return to his parent club however he is only concentrating on the upcoming World Cup in Brazil.

"Right now I'm only thinking of La Roja (Spain's national team)," Reina told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser recently.

"With regards to a new club, I will first have to speak to Liverpool. My season on loan at Napoli has been very positive and I thank the Napoli people and the club."