With Victor Valdes set to quit Camp Nou, the Anfield shot-stopper has been linked with a return to the Catalan club he left in 2002 as a replacement for the 31-year-old

Former Barcelona goalkeeper Jesus Angoy believes Pepe Reina has the ability to replace Victor Valdes at Camp Nou, should he decide to leave Liverpool.
The 30-year-old Anfield shot-stopper, who came through Barca’s La Masia academy, has constantly been linked with a move back to the Liga champions amid speculation over Valdes’ future.

Angoy, who is married to the daughter of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, made nine appearances for Barca during Cryuff’s spell as manager of the Catalan giants and can see Reina fitting in perfectly at his former club.

“Reina has enough quality for playing at Barcelona,” he told La Xarxa Radio.

“He is ready because he has already played for Barcelona, he has the profile they are looking for and has tremendous quality.

“Barcelona will miss Valdes and they need to be astute if they are to find a goalkeeper as good as Valdes.”

Reina left Barcelona, his first club, in 2002 to join Villareal, where he stayed for three years until joining Liverpool in 2005.

The goalkeeper’s agent insists the Premier League club have been watching the 24-year-old, but multiple sources at the German side say they will not be selling him

Hannover insist they have no interest in selling goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler to Liverpool, after the player’s agent stated that the Premier League side had “cast an eye” on him.
With Victor Valdes set to leave Barcelona this summer, speculation has been mounting that the Spanish champions have been looking at Pepe Reina as a possible replacement.

With that in mind, Zieler’s agent Gunther Neuhaus told Bild: “They [Liverpool] have cast an eye on Ron.” However, people at various levels of the Bundesliga side say they will not entertain any offers for Zieler.

“We wouldn’t even think about it,” stated coach Mirko Slomka. “Zieler is a fantastic keeper. It’s normal that he is in the focus. I’ve been wondering why no other club tried to sign him.”

Club president Martin Kind added: “Zieler will stay. We don’t need the money, we want [to] further [his] development at Hannover 96.”

Meanwhile, sporting director Dirk Dufner stated: “We have no interest in selling him. We are not worried because we are totally in charge.”

Rumours suggested that there was a condition in Zieler’s contract – which runs until 2015 – that would allow him to leave for a fee of €8 million (£6.8m). However, that is said to have expired on May 1.

The Anfield boss believes the Uruguay international is happy at the club but is expecting the forward to attract interest from sides during the transfer window

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he is under no pressure to sell Luis Suar but is expecting offers for the player over the summer.

Goal exclusively revealed in April that Liverpool would be willing to sell the Uruguay international if they receive an offer in excess of £40 million.

Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have all been linked with a move for Suarez in the upcoming transfer window, but Rodgers maintains Liverpool must strive to keep the forward at Anfield.

“Listen, every player has their price but there’s certainly no pressure for the club to sell him. We’re trying to build that bit of quality so he’s not for sale,” Rodgers told reporters.

“I don’t have any doubts there will be interest in him this summer, because he’s up there.

“People will want to take him, but I think we all recognise how integral he is. The owners have been absolutely unequivocal in their resolve in terms of wanting to keep him.

“I had a meeting with the owners when they came over and talked about lots of stuff and that was one of them.”

Rodgers believes Suarez, who will serve the remaining six games of his 10-match ban at the start of next season, is content to stay at Anfield, despite a lack of European football.

The Liverpool boss also feels the club’s unwavering support during the 26-year-old’s controversial incidents should influence his decision when approached by other sides.

“There’s a small percentage of players who are world class and he’s in that bracket, so I don’t think it will be too dissimilar to when I first came in last summer, with clubs making their interest known,” Rodgers said.

‘But he was committed to staying and working with the club. He’s very happy here. He had circumstances that made it extremely difficult for him but I’ve seen nothing to make me think otherwise.

“The supporters show their passion for him relentlessly so, as a club, I don’t think we can do any more.

“We have supported him when he’s been in turmoil and when he’s had setbacks, when there’s been traumas over the last couple of years. He knows he did wrong.

“I’ve been in contact with his agent so I think he needs to go away, play in the Confederations Cup with Uruguay, have a period of reflection and come back raring to go to help us have a good season.”