Liverpool FC £17million Glen Johnson bid accepted by Portsmouth

LIVERPOOL last night had a £17m bid accepted by Portsmouth for Glen Johnson.

And the England full-back has told Anfield officials that he wants to join the Reds.

Chelsea and Manchester City have both been chasing the 24-year-old, but the player has told Pompey officials that Liverpool is his preferred destination.

The Reds are wary about making any official statement after their experience with Gareth Barry last month.

They believed they had finally secured a player they first targeted 12-months earlier, only for the England midfielder to have a last minute change of heart and join Manchester City instead.

But this time the Reds are confident the deal will go through.

The fee handed over, however, will be significantly less than £17m, with money still owed for last summer's transfer of Peter Crouch.

Reports today suggested that Liverpool would seek to make up the remainder by offloading Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid for £8m and returning Andrea Dossena to Italy.

But no bids have been received for either player.

With Pompey's managerial and ownership situation still unclear, the Reds have been negotiating with Fratton Park chief executive Peter Storrie

"It is very hard to try and hold people back when they have a chance to play in the Champions League. I accept that," Storrie said.

"Glen has obviously had a fantastic season season for us and has established himself as one of the best right-backs in the league. He’s cemented his place in the England team and obviously the World Cup’s coming up now.

"I’ve known Glen for a long time since his West Ham days so when I re-signed him we talked it over and he asked if one of the big four clubs, who were in the Champions League, came in for him would we stand in his way of a move.

"I said that I couldn’t do that provided the deal is good for Portsmouth and for Glen."

It appears that Portsmouth have now received a deal which is good for all parties.

Johnson started his career at West Ham before joining Chelsea for £6m in 2003.

However, his opportunities were limited at Stamford Bridge and he joined Portsmouth on a season-long loan in the summer of 2006.

In August 2007 Pompey secured his services on a permanent basis for £4million and over the past two years he has established himself as England’s first choice right back.

Great, more shite...

We need title winners, not rejects.

..then lets hope Lucas is shown the door. He's useless.

.

johnson was probably the most improved player this season, one of the best right backs in the league

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