With the speed of the Italian reports on Wednesday about Pepe Reina moving to Aston Villa, and how quickly everything escalated, it would have been no surprise if he turned up in Birmingham today.
However, there’s been a slight hitch.
AC Milan will be happy to let the 37 year old go, having signed him up to larger wages than they really should have. Villa therefore, should be getting the goalkeeper on a free transfer, and there’s been endless reports that he’s positive about the move.
But, despite the Rossoneri being open to the deal, they feel they need a replacement in first. The club’s first choice stopper is 20 year old Gianluigi Donnarumma, Reina is the back-up, and the third choice option is 29 year old Antonio Donnarumma.
Antonio is Gianluigi’s big brother and it’s probably not too unkind to suggest that’s why he’s at AC Milan. The club clearly want someone else to give them strength.
TMW report that man could be Emiliano Viviano. If that name rings a bell, it’s probably because he had a loan period at Arsenal in the 2013/14 season.
Having left Sporting, the 34 year old is now a free agent, and TMW say he’s the first name on the list to replace Reina.
There’s already an agreement between Reina and Aston Villa, according to the report.
