Keeper is now expected to move back to his homeland next summer.
La Liga champions FC Barcelona have confirmed that they do wish to bring former shot stopper Jose Manuel Reina back to Camp Nou from Premier League giants Liverpool at the end of this season, according to reports in the Daily Star.
Liverpool Transfer News
Liverpool Keeper Pepe Reina to Complete Cut-Price £4.2m Move to Barcelona
The experienced Spain international is currently spending a season-long spell in Italy with Serie A high-flyers Napoli after Reds head coach Brendan Rodgers signed Belgium keeper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland for £9 million last summer.
However, it is not thought likely that the Northern Irishman will bring Reina back to Anfield next season, meaning the 31-year-old will be able to start looking for a new club on a permanent basis.
And that next destination now appears to be Catalunya after Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed that the Spaniards were interested in signing Reina to replace their outgoing No 1 Victor Valdes.
“We have been looking for a goalkeeper since Valdes announced he wanted to leave,” Bartomeu told Spanish radio station RAC1.
“We are in highly advanced negotiations. If Valdes says officially where he will go to in January, we will announce the new goalkeeper for Barcelona.
“Our idea is to sign only one goalkeeper.
“Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Pepe Reina are within our range of options, which is already very small.”
Reina began his career with Barcelona, making his debut for the club back in the 2000-01 campaign, with the custodian going on to feature in a total of 185 matches for the Spaniards in all competitions in his two seasons at Camp Nou, 139 of which came in La Liga.