Rumor Mongering: Simon Mignolet To Replace Pepe Reina (Again)

In the summer of 2013, Simon Mignolet made the move from Sunderland to Liverpool for around £9 million, essentially replacing long-time servant Pepe Reina. The one-reliable Spanish shot-stopper had seen a downturn in form, and was soon loaned out, and then sold by Brendan Rodgers.

Despite nearly winning the league with Liverpool in his first season, Mignolet has remained a weak link in Liverpool’s defense for nearly the entirety of his five seasons at Anfield. In Jürgen Klopp’s first summer transfer window, he brought in Loris Karius with a view to replace the Belgian. It took awhile, but Karius has now seemingly grabbed the starting spot, leaving Mignolet on the outs.

Mignolet, understandably, has been less-than-happy about his current second-fiddle position at Liverpool, and the assumption is that the 30-year-old keeper will be out the door when the summer transfer window opens in July.

Meanwhile, over in Italy, the man who Mignolet replaced, Reina has had a career resurgence, and Napoli currently sit top in Serie A (albeit, by a point and having played an extra match than chasers Juventus). Reina, now 34, is out of contract this summer, and it is assumed he will be moving on.

So, today the rumor mongers took the probabilities that these keepers are leaving their respective clubs, and decided that Mignolet is definitely going to Napoli. Of course.

While this does not seem like the most likely outcome, it is also not outside the realms of possibility. Though, one thing is increasingly clear, Mignolet seems all but set for an Anfield exit.