Pepe reina (Getty Images)
According to Football Insider (h/t Birmingham Mail), former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has tipped Aston Villa to complete a permanent transfer of on-loan keeper Pepe Reina.
37-year-old Reina joined Villa just back in January from Italian side AC Milan on loan following a season-ending injury to their first-choice keeper Tom Heaton. The veteran custodian, however, could soon return to San Siro as his contract with the Premier League side is set to expire coming June. But the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has now opened up new possibilities.
Loan stars could now stay for longer durations at the club if the season precedes beyond the contract dates. Having said that, former Three Lions keeper and now a football pundit, Robinson believes that the Dean Smith-led side should convince Reina to stick around permanently.
Reina, who arrived at Villa Park in January has since featured in six league matches. However, it has not been an entirely fruitful spell as he has conceded 13 goals and has no clean sheets to his name.
Despite having three other keepers including Heaton, Smith chose to bring Reina to England and has handed over the shot-stopper’s role to the seasoned campaigner. This alone is a reflection of the Spaniard’s worth in a side that has other young keepers in its ranks.
His vast experience in the Premier League, playing for top clubs on the biggest stages has come to his rescue as he was preferred over the likes of Jed Steer (27), Orjan Nyland (29), and Matija Sarkic (22).
Young Sarkic recently returned to Villa in January after completing his loan spell at Livingston FC, while Nyland and Steer have failed to impress, that saw Villa boss Smith go in pursuit of the experienced Reina.
Moreover, Villa are facing a difficult phase right now with the club most likely facing relegation this summer. Villa had just achieved promotion to the English top-tier last season but after a lacklustre season, they ]look set for a return to the Championship.
Hence, Smith’s decision to opt for former Liverpool keeper Reina, who has had plenty of experience playing in the Premier League does not come as a surprise. Now with the season facing uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic and Villa fighting for survival, signing loanee Riena seems like a good bet.
Irrespective of whether the Villans get relegated to the Championship, Reina’s experience and winning history could be useful for the club.
Reina is a hugely successful keeper, having plied his trade with top clubs such as Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich and Villareal in the past. Reina, who has won trophies in England, Germany, and Italy, is also a World Cup winner (2010) and two-time Euro Cup winner (2008, 2012).
With Villa currently going through one of its worst phases, it would be better to keep hold of the experienced Reina rather than gamble on the side’s younger keepers. So, it would be wise if Villa pay heed to Robinson’s words and sign him permanently, especially at this crucial juncture.
