Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed finances influenced his decision to sanction Pepe Reina's move to Napoli.
Reina is expected to join Napoli on a season-long loan early next week after Liverpool decided to let the keeper move on.
The Spaniard's future at Anfield has been the subject of conjecture since the arrival of Simon Mignolet from Sunderland and Rodgers concedes trimming the club's wage bill was one of the key reasons in letting Reina depart and he claimed the goalkeeper understood the club's decision.
"Financially it was something that we needed to look at," said Rodgers. "That would be the reason (to move Reina) as you wouldn't move on a top goalkeeper. It (the situation) reared its head over the last couple of months and I had to prepare by bringing in another keeper.
"Pepe is a good guy. I've a lot of time for him, and he understands what I want to do totally.
"He's got a big season ahead because it's a World Cup year and one where, if he wasn't going to be playing, could severely harm his chances of going."
