Transfer Centre

Pepe Reina interest confirmed by Barcelona

By Liam Power, Reporter | 19 November 2013

Barcelona confirm that Pepe Reina and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are on a two-man shortlist of goalkeepers to replace Victor Valdes next season.

Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed that Pepe Reina is their primary target to replace Victor Valdes next season on a shortlist of two potential new goalkeepers at Camp Nou.

Reina, who is currently on loan from Liverpool at Serie A giants Napoli, has been persistently linked with a switch to Barca at the end of this season.

Bartomeu revealed that Barca chiefs are waiting for Valdes to make a decision on his future before making their plans concrete, but Reina and Borussia Monchengladbach keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen are both transfer targets.

He told RAC1: "We have been looking for a goalkeeper since Valdes announced he wanted to leave.

"We are in highly advanced negotiations. If Valdes says officially where he will go to in January, we will announce the new goalkeeper for Barcelona.

"Our idea is to sign only one goalkeeper. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Pepe Reina are within our range of options, which is already very small."

Valdes has previously gone on record as stating his intention to walk away from La Liga on a free transfer next summer, with Monaco mentioned as a potential destination.