Is his signing as replacement, or as rival?

I have to say, I have my severe doubts that Simon Mignolet is being signed as competition for Pepe Reina.

This is the story that we are being given this week, with the Belgian stopper completing a medical at Melwood today ahead of an imminent £9m transfer from Sunderland. Brendan Rodgers has indicated that Mignolet is being brought in as competition for Pepe Reina, and not a replacement.

Away at the Confederations Cup, Reina has moved to endorse the signing as well as re-affirm his commitment to Liverpool:

“I have said it many times, I’m very comfortable and very happy at Liverpool. Every team needs competitors, and when it’s positive it is more than welcome. If it is finally done, I’ll welcome him a lot and anything he needs, I’m here.”

Nice words from the Spaniard, but is that ultimately going to be the case? I’m not so sure.

Firstly, is Reina going to leave? That’s the million dollar question. I personally think that he has needed a goalkeeper of some quality on the bench to push him for some time now, but speculation regarding a move to Barcelona has dampened with Victor Valdes announcing he was going to be leaving the Catalan giants on a Bosman transfer in summer 2014.

Personally I think we are signing Mignolet to future proof Reina departing to Barcelona. I think big spending Monaco will make a ridiculous offer for Valdes’ services, and so Barcelona will need to sign a replacement. The whole “he’d be free next season” doesn’t tend to wash with crazy spenders like Monaco. It’s only an opinion, and as of now I highly doubt we have had any formal offers for Reina, but the transfer window hasn’t even opened yet. That could change at any moment.
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Additionally, at this vital stage of his career, is Mignolet going to come and sit on the bench when he could be getting first team action every week elsewhere? I would personally argue not. It is also a World Cup season. Mignolet will be hard pressed to displace Thibault Courtois as it is, because he is a top drawer goalkeeper. Is he more likely to do that on our bench than at Sunderland? Again, I would argue not.

I am all for improving the squad, but do we really need to spend £9m of whatever our budget might be on a goalkeeper? In my opinion we have far more pressing matters to address, in particular at centre-half and the centre of midfield, places where we are short of quality if not quantity. We need to address those issues way before we look at the keeper situation.

Reina is top class, although his form has considerably waned over the last three seasons. Following him will be a tough act to follow. But barring any hiccups with the medical, I think that will be Simon Mignolet’s role, and it will be sooner rather than later. I still think Reina will be off. However, give the club their due, it is good to see us getting ahead of the game instead of getting shafted on deadline day with no replacement available.

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe Reina will stay, maybe Valdes will stay and maybe Mignolet will be in competition for the number one spot. But I’d have to say that I’d find that very surprising at this stage.
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