- Chelsea are targeting Pepe Reina from Serie A side, AC Milan
- The 35-year-old has just signed for the Italian side this summer
- Sarri wants to reunite with his former Napoli shot-stopper
Chelsea are close to signing Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina from AC Milan in a £9m deal despite joining the Italian side just two days ago.
Maurizio Sarri has placed a bid to sign the 35-year-old Spanish stopper, who he worked with at Napoli.
The former Liverpool number one moved to AC Milan on a free this summer but wants to join up with his former boss at Stamford Bridge.
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And Reina will become part of Sarri's back-room team when he hangs up his boots in a couple of years.
Chelsea are braced to lose Thibaut Courtois with Real Madrid hot on the heels of the Blues number one.
And the Spaniard could be their best bet to replace him having played for Sarri in Serie A for a few years.
Reina played 285 Premier League games for the Anfield giants in his eight-years career before moving to Napoli.
He was also second choice for Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich for a brief spell before returning to Italy.
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Reina was in Spain's squad in Russia for the World Cup as back-up to David de Gea and Kepa Arrizabalaga but he did not play a single minute as they crashed out in the knockout stages.
Sarri made a winning start as manager when the Blues defeated Perth Glory 1-0 in a pre-season friendly on Monday.
Pedro's early goal was enough to seal the win their only game on a whistle-stop tour of Australia.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that Chelsea are looking to create a smoking spot for Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge.
Smoking in public places and offices including stadiums have been prohibited in the United Kingdom since 2006 but the club are looking for means to help their chain-smoking manager.
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Source: Naija.ng