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Despite all the public statements to the contrary, Pepe Reina’s future at Anfield remains shrouded in doubt.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has put reports linking Reina with a return to Barcelona down to the “silly season” and insists his goalkeeper is not for sale.

In turn Reina says the “rumours” are flattering but this week emphasised that he’s “satisfied, comfortable and my family are very happy” with life in Liverpool.

What is clear is that all the speculation isn’t going to end any time soon.

The Catalan giants will try to prise Reina away from Anfield when the transfer window opens in July.

With Victor Valdes on his way out, Barca have identified 30-year-old Reina as the ideal replacement. Reports in Spain suggest they are prepared to pay £10million for his services.

Reina’s exit is far from a certainty but the feeling persists that a situation could develop where both parties decide a parting of the ways is mutually beneficial.

From the player’s point of view, the chance to return to the club where he began his career would have a huge emotional pull.

Reina was a graduate of the famed La Masia Academy and played 30 league games for Barca between 2000 and 2002 before joining Villarreal.

Similarly, there’s a sense that Liverpool wouldn’t fight too hard to keep him, with the prospect of getting one of their highest earners off the wage bill.

A game of brinkmanship is likely to develop with the player wanting to ensure that if he does go it’s viewed as Liverpool’s decision, while the club will want Reina to be seen as the one forcing a move through.

If Reina really wants out then Liverpool will have little choice but to do business with Barca. After eight years of loyal service he would depart with his head held high.

However, the idea that Liverpool would be somehow better off by investing the fee for Reina in a younger keeper such as Alex McCarthy on lower wages simply doesn’t stack up.

Reina’s best years are still ahead of him and his form improved drastically over the course of this season.

During a summer when they waved goodbye to Jamie Carragher, Liverpool need to question whether they can really afford to lose another leader in the dressing room?

Daniel Sturridge backs Street League

Daniel Sturridge has thrown his support behind the launch of Street League in the city.

The national charity uses the power of football to help disadvantaged 16 to 25 year olds who aren’t in education, employment or training by developing their skills to earn qualifications.

Sturridge attended the charity’s new Liverpool headquarters in Speke, which has been funded by a £50,000 donation from Hyundai.

He said: “I’m pleased to be part of something so positive, which is really helping young people get jobs.

“I grew up in an environment where there was a lot of bad things going on. I could easily have got involved in that.

“But I think it's key that you realise what you have to do yourself, and that means being disciplined. These young people can achieve something. They just need the confidence and support to actually go and achieve it.”

To join the programme contact Paul Harris on 0151 230 8743.

Freddy’s dreams come true at Liverpool Former Players’ dinner

Liverpool's remarkable global appeal was underlined by this week’s former players association dinner at the Hilton.

Among the 300 guests was Keita Ishii, a member of the LFC official supporters club in Japan who had bought a ticket for the event online and flown in from Yokohama especially for the occasion.

Late in the evening association chairman Jan Molby was informed that among the fans outside was a Norwegian Red who had been standing there for more than four hours in the hope of meeting the Danish legend.

Within seconds an emotional Freddy Pettersen was ushered through to join Molby at his table and presented with a pint by the pass master.

A whole host of legends signed his shirt which now sits proudly behind glass back home in Scandinavia.