Jose "Pepe" Reina, Liverpool's number one goalkeeper under Spanish manager Rafael Benitez, appears set to leave the Reds and return to top flight football in the Primera Liga with Valencia. Benitez was manager of Valencia before taking over at Liverpool, but it is unclear whether Rafa is playing any part in the 24-year-old's link with Valencia.

A source close to the player told Goal.com, "Reina is negotiating with Valencia."

Reina would sign on with Los Ches for the start of the 2007/08 season.

"The Catalan goalkeeper wishes to return to Spain for personal reason," added the source.

Current Valencia goalkeeper, and tri-captain, Santiago Canizares turns 37 on December 18 and is likely to hang up his gloves at the end of the current campaign.

Reina previously represented FC Barcelona and then Villarreal in La Liga before joining Liverpool in 2005 and relegating Polish international Jerzy Dudek, the man between the pipes in the famous 2005 Champions League finale, to purgatory.

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