Liverpool FC confident of beating Chelsea to Glen Johnson signature LIVERPOOL are set to score their first victory of the new season over Chelsea – by clinching the signature of Glen Johnson from Portsmouth.
Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie has confirmed that the England full-back had been given permission to speak to TWO clubs.
“Glen has got permission to speak to two clubs and I think that is what he is going to do,” he said.
“The matter will come to a conclusion next week. I do not have a preference over the move, it is up to Glen and his agent. The deals are almost identical so it is really down to him and what club he prefers.”
Liverpool, however, remain confident that the £17m defender has made up his mind on a move to Anfield.
He is expected to cut short a holiday to have a medical this weekend.
Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, was asked about his long-term future yesterday and cryptically replied: “I cannot respond to that. But each player thinks about the future.
“It's clear that on the outside there are reports about your future, but you cannot do much and the only thing you can do is train normally.”
Alonso has three years remaining on his Anfield contract and Rafael Benitez does not want to sell the Spanish midfielder.
He will only consider a transfer if Alonso makes it clear he wants to leave, and if a club meets his valuation of the player.
Only Real Madrid are likely to be able to meet an asking price in the region of #20m-plus.
Fernando Torres has also brushed off transfer speculation by insisting he will stay at Liverpool for as long as he is wanted.
He said: “I sincerely believe I will win the Premier League and the European Cup here. The winning tradition is very clear at Liverpool. I want to be involved in a little piece of their history.
“I’m very happy with my contract at Liverpool and wouldn’t leave just to earn a little more somewhere else where I wouldn’t be that happy. To want any more would be greedy and that is not me. As long as Liverpool want me, I will stay.”
Liverpool’s perilous financial position has increased speculation about the future of their star names, with Reds boss Rafael Benitez consistently denying midfielder Javier Mascherano is on his way out of Anfield.
Torres also believes the Argentinian will stay, adding: “Javier loves it at Liverpool, that is all I can tell you.
“In the summer people like to make a lot of noises about world-class players – and Javier is a world-class player. He has said himself that he is very happy at Anfield and there is no reason for him to want to leave.”
The Reds, meanwhile, have announced the appointment of Antonio Gomez Perez to their backroom staff as reserve team coach. Gomez will work alongside John McMahon.
THE ECHO