Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina insists he is fully committed to his long-term contract at the club and has not told manager Roy Hodgson he wishes to leave.
A report on Friday had suggested the Spain international, who signed a new six-year contract towards the end of last season, had expressed his desire to quit Anfield.
However, the 28-year-old has said this was untrue. "I have not told the manager that I wish to leave in January or at any time," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "It is important our fans know this. I have a long-term contract at the club and am fully committed to the club." Reina added: "I have seen a newspaper has made this suggestion. It is completely untrue."
Reina was happy to commit himself to the club after being impressed by owner John Henry's vision of the future.
However, New England Sports Ventures are going to have to back up some of their pledges with firm action in the coming months if they are to avoid to further speculation about their players being unhappy.
There were murmurings Reina was not entirely happy with some issues surrounding a change to his style of goalkeeping but his decision to publicly commit himself suggests those are not insurmountable. And after NESV's £300million takeover last month he is now satisfied the club is moving in the right direction after years of off-field uncertainty under the leadership of formers owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
"Our new owner met me and some of the other players last week and I was very happy with what he told me," said the Spain international. "The entire squad and staff are working very hard to get us back competing at the top of the table. We will not be distracted by inaccurate media speculation."
Speculation about his future increased in the week when comments appeared from the goalkeeper in which he claimed he would consider his position at the end of the season, which began poorly but has picked up in recent weeks.
When asked about it on Tuesday Hodgson shrugged it off, saying the player was entitled to assess his position.
"That's fair enough, what's wrong with that," he said. "He is an excellent goalkeeper and I hope he plays for Liverpool for years to come."