Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said he decided to let Pepe Reina leave the club this summer in order to balance the books, as Luis Suarez links up with the rest of the squad in Australia ahead of scheduled crunch talks with the club.
Reina is set for a move to Napoli on a season-long loan deal, and with Rodgers already having bought Simon Mignolet from Sunderland, the Spaniard leaving Anfield was almost inevitable.
Rodgers said reducing the wage bill was one of the main reasons why he sanctioned Reina's departure from Liverpool this summer.
"Financially it was something that we needed to look at," Rodgers said. "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."
Meanwhile, Suarez flew into Australia to join the Liverpool squad, who are scheduled to play a preseason friendly against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday, before flying to Thailand to complete their tour of Asia and Australia.
Suarez has been the subject of much speculation, but refused to answer questions posed by a TV reporter at the airport.
The 26-year-old is expected to hold talks with Rodgers and the club's hierarchy over his future with Arsenal reportedly ready to ramp up the pressure by putting in a £40 million ($61 million) offer.
Rodgers, earlier, dismissed suggestions that the striker would decide not to link up with the squad as scheduled, while adding he was looking forward to holding talks with Suarez.
"We will see him in Melbourne," Rodgers told reporters before Suarez's arrival.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him, he's a player I've always supported. I understand the situation but the bottom line is he is employed by the club.
"The money goes into his bank at the end of every month, so he should be here. If he's not, which I doubt, there will be a problem."
