Bayern Munich transfer news: Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina signs for German giants

The Spaniard spent last season on loan in Italy with Napoli

Pepe Reina spent last season on loan at Napoli (Getty Images)

Bayern Munich have agreed a deal to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, the Bundesliga champions have announced.

The Spaniard has fallen out of favour at Anfield under Brendan Rodgers and spent last season on loan at Napoli, but is now set to move to Germany on a permanent deal, with Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirming a deal had been agreed.

“Goalkeeper Pepe #Reina (PReina25) set for move from LFC to #FCBayern. #Rummenigge confirms agreement. Medical to follow soon,” read a post on Bayern's official Twitter feed.

Rummenigge expanded on the club's official website, saying: “The player will come to Munich in the next few days for a medical exam and to sign his contract.”

Reina served as Liverpool's number one for eight seasons following his signing from Villarreal in 2005, but the arrival of Simon Mignolet last summer saw him reunited with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez in Italy.

Benitez was known to be interested in signing the Spain international on a permanent deal, but Napoli refused to meet the £3.95million release clause in his contract and Reina travelled to the United States for Liverpool's pre-season tour following the World Cup.

He will now make a fresh start in Germany, although the 31-year-old is likely to find it more difficult to get first-team football in Munich than he did on Merseyside, with Germany keeper Manuel Neuer firmly established between the sticks at the Allianz Arena.

Reina came through the ranks at Barcelona, but could never fully establish himself at the Nou Camp and moved to the Yellow Submarine in 2002, spending three seasons with the club before his move to the Premier League.

While at Anfield, Reina won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Super Cup and added the Coppa Italia to his list of medals in Naples last season.

Rummenigge added: “Pepe Reina was eager to come to Bayern Munich.

”He wanted to embark on this adventure even though he knows that, in Manuel Neuer, he has a keeper in front of him who, if nothing changes, will always remain the number one.“

As well as adding to his defensive ranks, Bayern boss Pep Guardiola also seems keen to keep hold of the players he has and on Tuesday dismissed reports linking central defender Jerome Boateng with Barcelona.

Spain's Marca radio suggested the Catalan club were closing in on the Germany defender, an alternative candidate to his compatriot Mats Hummels to reinforce the Primera Division side's defence this season.

But speaking at a press conference in Portland, where Bayern are currently preparing for the new season, Guardiola said there was no truth whatsoever to the story and he had no intention of letting the former Manchester City defender go.

“I don't usually say anything about things I read in the newspaper, but I am planning 100 per cent with him here,” Guardiola said.

The Spaniard added that he did not expect club bosses to order him to sell any of his first-choice players either as the Bavarians prepare an assault on a hat-trick of Bundesliga titles this season.

He need not worry about that in the case of Boateng, though, with Rummenigge telling the Bild newspaper that the rumours were “laughable”.

Boateng joined Bayern from City in 2011 and he extended his contract until 2018 only last December.

PA