Hugo Lloris To Replace Pepe Reina

Liverpool will bid for France number one Hugo Lloris, if AC Milan step up their reported interest in Spanish stopper Pepe Reina and take him to the San Siro. New Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers is said to recognise the Lyon man as the natural successor to the highly-regarded Spaniard, but he will face stiff competition from around the biggest clubs in Europe if the French club decide to cash in on one of their most prized assets.

The Mirror are reporting that French source 10 Sport say that Lloris is Liverpool’s top choice should Reina quit Anfield, and that while the 25-year-old is understood to be settled at Lyon, chairman Jean-Michel Aaulas was quoted before Euro 2012 as saying that the keeper had confirmed that he could well be tempted by an offer from a “great European club”.

Whether Liverpool will still fit that bill for Lloris when there are likely to be a host of other top clubs interested in adding his considerable talents to his squad remains to be seen. But he would certainly offer a strong foundation for Brendan Rodgers to rebuild the Anfield side.

AC Milan are said to be interested in bringing Reina to Italy to replace current number one Christian Abbiati, and the Spaniard might well leap at the opportunity to head to the San Siro with the opportunity for immediate Champions League football, and the chance of domestic silverware. With Liverpool suffering a difficult season last year, albeit apart from a League Cup win that was deemed insufficient to keep Kenny Dalglish in a job, and a huge season ahead for new manager Rodgers, the strong foundations at AC Milan will appear a far better option at this stage in the player’s career.