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Rodgers: Reina Liverpool exit to ease wage bill

Pepe Reina has been at Liverpool for eight years © Getty Images

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Brendan Rodgers has admitted that Liverpool need to get Pepe Reina off the wage bill - and the manager also revealed Luis Suarez has arrived in Melbourne for the club's tour.

The goalkeeper, who reportedly earns £110,000 a week, is set to complete a move to Napoli on a season-long loan.

Rodgers has signed Sunderland's Simon Mignolet for £9 million to be Liverpool's new first-choice keeper and said he could not justify keeping Reina as his deputy - especially as it could damage the Spaniard's chances of selection for the 2014 World Cup.

"Financially it is something we needed to look at," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo after his side's 2-0 win over Indonesia. "That would be the reason because obviously you wouldn't move on a top goalkeeper.

"It reared its head over the last few months and I had to prepare for it by bringing in a new goalkeeper. Pepe is a good guy. I've a lot of time for him, and he understands what I want to do totally.

"He's got a big season ahead because it's a World Cup year and one where, if he wasn't going to be playing, could severely harm his chances of going."

Reina has made 394 appearances in eight years at Anfield since being signed by Rafael Benitez, now the manager of Napoli.

Meanwhile, Suarez arrived in Melbourne for the club's tour on Sunday as scheduled.

Rodgers was quoted as telling the Sunday newspapers prior to the Uruguayan's arrival: "I'm looking forward to seeing him. He's a player I've always supported. I understand the situation but the bottom line is he is employed by the club. The money goes into his bank at the end of every month, so he should be here."

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