Pepe Reina’s agent has travelled to Milan to negotiate his departure from the club ahead of a move to Aston Villa.
Villa are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper after losing first-choice Tom Heaton last weekend, and Reina has emerged as a potential target.
Reports yesterday claimed the Spaniard was close to agreeing a deal and CalcioMercato confirm that is the case.
They report that his agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, has travelled to Milan to discuss ending his contract with AC Milan six months early.
Reina already has an agreement in place with Aston Villa, who can offer him first-team football, but Milan have to give their approval before the move can be finalised.
His agent is meeting with the Serie A club today to find an agreement to end Reina’s contract, which was due to expire this summer, six months early.
The Rossoneri will have to give the goalkeeper a ‘small golden handshake’ as a severance package, although they are happy to do this as ending it early will save them €3.5m a year in wages. That figure is likely after tax, with the true saving higher.
Once that is sorted, he will be free to return to England with Aston Villa, who are close to solving their first significant problem this month.
