Manchester City Transfer News: Pepe Reina Rumours, Latest on Alexis Sanchez
Manchester City are said to be close to completing a deal to sign Spain international goalkeeper Pepe Reina from Napoli.
According to James Ducker of the Daily Telegraph, City have already seen a £2.6 million bid turned down by the Serie A side. Napoli are said to be holding out for £4.4 million for the ex-Liverpool man.
"Reina would join City as deputy to new first choice goalkeeper, Ederson Moraes," according to Ducker's report. Ducker also noted the arrival of Reina may push Claudio Bravo closer to an Etihad Stadium exit, as he struggled for form during his debut season in the Premier League.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
The move would be a surprising one and would see a total reshuffle of City's options between the sticks. As noted in the report, Joe Hart is set to leave the club on loan for a second season in succession, Bravo's position is in doubt and Willy Caballero has joined Chelsea after being released.
Reina would be a solid acquisition for Pep Guardiola's side, as he's been one of the most consistent stoppers in Serie A, per WhoScored.com:
Not only is Reina experienced at 34, he knows what's needed to thrive in the Premier League, having spent nine years at Liverpool.
While he struggled towards the end of his spell on Merseyside, the Spaniard has been rejuvenated by his move to Italy and was a key member of Napoli's swashbuckling side last season, helping the team to a third-place finish. Reina's fine distribution would see him align well with the Guardiola mantras, too.
Given he's a key man at the San Paolo, moving to City to be a deputy would be a big decision, especially in what should be the peak years of the 'keeper's career.
Bayern Munich Out of Alexis Sanchez Race
Bayern Munich's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has insisted the club will not be pursuing any deal for Arsenal forward and reported Manchester City target Alexis Sanchez this summer.
The German champions swooped to sign James Rodriguez on loan from Real Madrid to boost their attacking options, and when asked about a possible move for another forward, Sanchez in particular, Rummenigge was adamant their business had been finalised in this facet of the field.
"We are no longer involved," he said of the scramble for the Chilean, per Kicker (h/t AFP via Sky Sports). "We have agreed with our coach that we won't add [new players] in attack. It wouldn't make any sense."
As noted in the report, Bayern had previously been tipped as City's main rivals to sign Sanchez, with the 28-year-old's contract set to expire at the end of next season. As noted below, despite his desire to depart, Arsenal want to keep him around:
City are blessed with so many options in attack, it's difficult to see quite how Guardiola would insert Sanchez into the side. Not only have the club done a deal for Bernardo Silva already this summer, they have Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane to call upon in the forward positions.
Alexis' addition would ensure City had the best set of attacking options in the Premier League, but they will surely face huge resistance from Arsenal, who would be wary of letting their star man move to a possible title rival.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
