Arsenal hope to lure Anfield star to Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger will launch a determined bid to sign a goalkeeper in January – with Pepe Reina top of his wish-list.
The Arsenal boss also fancies Stoke's Asmir Begovic if he cannot agree a deal with Liverpool for Reina.
The fact Wenger is ready to go for a new first-choice keeper is seriously bad news for his current No1, Wojciech Szczesny.
Wenger tried to sign Reina two summers ago and Arsenal believe there's a chance Liverpool will be willing to cash in and go for Birmingham's England prospect Jack Butland as a replacement.
Spain international Reina, who has had an indifferent season, is on £110,000-a-week wages, which is likely to be a major issue for Arsenal.
That is why they are also looking at Begovic, who has impressed Gunners scouts.
Arsenal have long been thought to need a new goalkeeper – however Wojciech Szczesny has performed.
The Poland international has long been heralded as the greatest thing to come out of his country since vodka and amber, but sometimes treads a fine line between confidence and arrogance.
Still, 22 year-old Szczesny seems destined for the highest level, and despite his tender age for someone in his position, the Pole has a real shot of making it as the best player of his generation – at least from his nationality.
Arsenal's defence have not actually been as bad as they have been made out to be this season, but there have been far too many individual errors in their play, and Szczesny would be included in those responsible.
At present, Szczesny's only real weakness appears to be shots from distance, for when he manages to keep his concentration for the entirety of a match, he never seems to be less than fully in control.
Without optimum cover, Szczesny is left to fend for himself, and perhaps this is where the errors have crept into his game.
Arsenal will be wary of both losing a promising player far too young, and indeed rewarding a player far too early in his short career.
As for Liverpool, if they can sell Reina for a decent fee at this stage of his career – and display the same prowess for his new club – this could be a season that goalkeeper swaps could work surprisingly well for both teams.
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