Chelsea close to signing Pepe Reina from AC Milan in £9m deal just days after he was unveiled by Italian club
Blues boss Maurizio Sarri worked with the Spanish star during his spell at Napoli
CHELSEA are close to signing former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina from AC Milan in a £9million deal - despite him only joining the Italian side two days ago.
Blues boss Maurizio Sarri has made a bid to sign the 35-year-old Spanish stopper, who he worked with at Napoli.
Reina moved to AC Milan on a free this summer but wants to join up with his former boss in London.
And the goalkeeper will become part of Sarri's back-room team when he hangs up his boots in a couple of years' time.
Chelsea are braced to lose their No 1 Thibaut Courtois with Real Madrid hot on the heels of the Belgian.
And ex-Reds keeper Reina could be their best bet to replace him having played for Sarri in Serie A.
Reina played 285 Premier League games for Liverpool in an eight-year career at Anfield before moving to Napoli.
He also warmed the bench for Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich for a brief spell before returning to Italy.
His performances in Serie A for Napoli saw him head to Russia for the World Cup as back-up to David de Gea and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
But he did not play a single minute as Spain crashed out in the knockout stages to Russia.
Sarri made a winning start as Chelsea manager when the Blues beat Perth Glory 1-0 on Monday.
Pedro's early goal was enough for Chelsea to win their only game on a whistle-stop tour of Australia.
