Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Martin Skrtel Exit, Pepe Reina Return Rumours

Newly promoted Middlesbrough are hoping to keep Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel in the Premier League following reports they're ready to make a £6 million bid for the Reds veteran this summer. However, an Anfield return is off the table for Pepe Reina. 

Boro boss Aitor Karanka is interested in signing the Slovakia international after guiding his team to a second-placed finish in the Championship last season, according to the Sun's Mike McGrath.

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Skrtel has another two years remaining on his Anfield contract, but it's suspected manager Jurgen Klopp will allow the central defender to move on this summer following an injury-riddled 2015-16 campaign.

Per Transfermarkt, the 31-year-old missed a total of 19 matches and made 27 first-team appearances for the Reds last season, including just 90 minutes in the club's run to the UEFA Europa League final.

Klopp preferred the central partnership of Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren for the most part, while Emre Can can also play at the back and Schalke 04 defender Joel Matip will arrive on a free transfer this summer.

Skrtel's agent, Karol Csonto, also recently confirmed to Slovakian television station TV Markiza that his client is almost certain to leave Merseyside (h/t TalkSport): "Besiktas is one of those interested in Martin, but we haven't reached a point where I can confirm Martin is going there, or anywhere else. I can say that it is 90 percent sure Martin will leave Liverpool, but it is far from closed."

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Middlesbrough will take some heart in knowing their target is at least on his way out of Anfield, and Skrtel may well favour a Premier League stay after settling at Liverpool since his move from Zenit St Petersburg in 2008.

OptaCan recently compared his 2015-16 statistics with Besiktas' Brazilian central defender Rhodolfo, and it's the Slovakia international who appeared the superior asset in just about every regard:

While Skrtel's chances of leaving appear high, former Anfield favourite Reina will be prevented from making his return to Liverpool following news Napoli have rejected the Merseysiders' approach for the goalkeeper.

That's according to Italian outlet Calciomercato, who reported Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis isn't keen on the thought of losing his stopper. Sport Witness sourced Catalan daily Sport, which alleged Barcelona are also interested, per Sport Witness:

Reina was an almost ever-present figure for Napoli in their run to a second-placed finish in Serie A last season, making 44 appearances across all competitions and missing just one league match.

It's been two years since the 33-year-old left Anfield to join Pep Guardiola's project at Bayern Munich, but Liverpool's chances of tempting the former fan favourite back to Merseyside seem to be over before they've even begun.