Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he wanted to send Pepe Reina to Napoli to help the club with finances.
The Spanish goalkeeper will spend the season on loan with former Anfield manager Rafael Benitez at Napoli with the view to signing a permanent deal next summer.
Rodgers says the move is a clear indication that the Reds are evolving and suggested that he could not afford to pay Reina's wages - in excess of £100,000 a week - for him to sit on the bench after signing Simon Mignolet from Sunderland for £9million.
"This team is evolving. It's my decision," said Rodgers.
"Last year I had to make decisions in pre-season for the financial stability of the club and that's something I've obviously had to do this year as well.
"Financially, it is something we needed to look at. I had a good chat with Pepe the other day and he knows where it's at.
"It reared its head over the last few months and I had to prepare for it by bringing in another goalkeeper anyway.
"Pepe is a good guy and I've got a lot of time for him. He's been a real pillar for me in terms of how I want to operate.
"But 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, that could severely harm his chances of going to the World Cup. We both understand that."
