Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Pepe Reina's loan move to Napoli will go ahead.

The Spanish goalkeeper has been linked with a move to the Serie A side, who are currently managed by former Reds boss Rafael Benitez, and reportedly underwent a medical with the club on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference from the team's hotel in Thailand, Rodgers said: "From last season, really, as a manager I was led to believe that we were going to get an offer for Pepe that would probably see him leave the club.

"On the football side, we have to protect the team, and at that stage we started our search for another goalkeeper. That found us Simon Mignolet, who's top class, one of the top young European goalkeepers. As a senior goalkeeper, [Reina] needs to be playing.

"It's a very important year for him with the World Cup next year. It wouldn't have served any purpose, both for the club and him personally, if he'd been the one missing out. It's decided he will go to Napoli and we've got two very good goalkeepers still at the football club. We'll review it after the loan finishes."

The 30-year-old joined Liverpool from Villarreal in 2005.