Liverpool to offer veteran a two-year deal
Pepe Reina could have an experienced understudy to compete with at Liverpool next season with the Daily Mirror reporting that they are leading the race to sign veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
The 40-year-old shot-stopper's Aston Villa contract is set to expire and it doesn't look likely that he will agree an extension, and though he is rumoured to be the subject of interest from Tottenham, West Brom and Schalke, Anfield is believed to be his preferred destination.
The American spent three years there when he first arrived in England at the end of the last century and his experience back then, failing to land a regular starting berth, isn't thought to have put him off, with Kenny Dalglish's willingness to offer a two-year contract expected to be a deciding factor.
It still seems a strange move to make however, because his chances of first-team football would surely be slimmer on Merseyside that at any of the other suggested suitors, not least because Reina hasn't missed a single Premier League game over the course of the last four campaigns.
The only plausible explanations are either that he has been alerted to the possibility of Reina leaving the Reds, which appears a long shot judging by comments from both the club and World Cup winner, or he is happy to sit on the bench at a big team in the twilight of his career in the hope of silverware.
Villa aren't anticipated to be too hamstrung by Friedel's departure as it has been widely speculated that they have held preliminary discussions with West Ham about the capture of ex-England number one Robert Green, who the Irons would rather sell for a fee now than lose for nothing next year.
Will Liverpool win championship number 19 next year? They are [12.5] to do so...
Published: 24 May 2011
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