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Arsenal legend Bob Wilson has revealed Arsene Wenger made “a big bid” for Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina last summer.

Reports emerged in the press last summer that Arsenal had made a substantial bid for Reina, with The Sun claiming it was worth £23 million and the Daily Mail putting it at £25 million.

Wilson has now confirmed that Wenger – who has faced criticism for his failure to sign a top-class goalkeeper – did make an offer for the Spain international.

“Arsene tried like mad to buy not only a goalkeeper but what he considered to be the most consistent in the country, so he made a big bid for Pepe Reina,” Wilson told talkSPORT.

“That didn’t come out because that’s not Arsene Wenger’s way of doing it and it’s not Arsenal’s way of doing it, but he did attempt to do that.”

While an injury crisis has forced Wenger to re-sign Jens Lehmann on a rolling contract, the emergence of Wojciech Szczesny has at least provided hope that Arsenal now have a goalkeeper capable of establishing himself long-term.

Wilson believes that Wenger would have had to have allowed Szczesny to leave the club had Reina joined.

“I think he would have lost, without any doubt, the young kid Szczesny, who I believe is going to be the future,” Wilson added. “It’s most unfortunate he has had this injury and in the game that he had it, but I happen to think Szczesny is going to be a great goalkeeper. The boy is ready now – you ask Arsenal fans.”

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Luis Suarez has handed Liverpool a lift by revealing his injury is not as serious as had been feared.

The Uruguayan produced a starring display in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Sunderland last weekend, scoring a brilliant solo goal to seal victory. He was substituted after scoring his goal and left the field seemingly nursing a groin problem.

Suarez pulled out of Uruguay’s friendlies with Estonia and Republic of Ireland, opting to remain on Merseyside for treatment.

“In Liverpool working hard to be ready for next match,” Suarez wrote on Twitter. “I’ve been lucky, the injury isn’t that bad and it should be fine.

“I also want to tell you I’m a bit sad for not playing the match with Uruguay.”

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Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out ever taking charge of Inter Milan, but the Chelsea boss has admitted he would not turn down the chance to return to AC Milan.

Ancelotti had a stellar career as a player and manager with AC Milan – guiding the Rossoneri to Champions League glory on two occasions. He joined Chelsea in 2009 and led them to Premier League and FA Cup success last term, but this season has been a tough one. The Blues are still in the hunt for honours but he has been linked with a return to Italy.

Chelsea did little to dampen talk about Ancelotti’s future recently and Inter are believed to be tracking his progress.

“Would I go to Inter in place of Leonardo? No,” Ancelotti told Il Giorno. “I’ve spent 13 years at Milan, for me it is impossible to ignore the past.

“Moratti [Inter president, Massimo] has been thinking about me? I thank him for the kind words but I’m an AC Milan man. In the event that Moratti calls me in the future, I’ll politely decline the invitation.”

The Italian is focused on his role with Chelsea, but it is obvious that AC Milan hold a place in his heart.

“I am not thinking about returning to AC Milan,” he said. “I’m at Chelsea. But if one day [club chief Silvio] Berlusconi or someone from AC Milan calls, I would not think for a moment to say yes, because certain relationships and certain victories will never be forgotten.”

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