Glen Johnson

[Rambo 1,729]

Unless Bosignwa is going to Bayern in return for Ribery, I don't see why we need this Glen Johnson guy.

[the wes 7,212]

RAFA BENITEZ is on the verge of making Glen Johnson Liverpool’s first summer signing after Chelsea beat a tactical retreat in their chase for the England defender.

Portsmouth are understood to have agreed a fee with Liverpool following more talks yesterday that could eventually reach £18.5 million for one of the Premier League’s most daring full-backs.

Liverpool will offset the outlay by selling Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid for around £8m.

They are also still owed £7m from Portsmouth as part of the deal that took Peter Crouch to Fratton Park last summer.

Johnson, 24, had been the subject of a similar bid from Chelsea, but sources at Stamford Bridge last night indicated that their interest in a player who only left the club two years ago had waned.

Anfield boss Benitez’s long-standing interest in Johnson is thought to have been a major factor in the player indicating he preferred a move to Merseyside.

Manchester City, Tottenham and Bayern Munich had also been keen on Johnson, but the prospect of helping Liverpool push on from last season’s second-place finish in the Premier League appeals.

Despite the size of the fee, it is an indication of the constraints that Benitez is working under that Arbeloa, who began his career at Real Madrid, will be sacrificed to help fund the cash.

Real president Florentino Perez is pursuing other high-profile targets first, among those being Xabi Alonso, because he is aware that a move for Arbeloa will be straightforward.

Benitez is also likely to allow Andrea Dossena to return to Italy after just one season at the club with Juventus interested in a £6m deal.

[Matterz 67]

Why would you want to bring in Johnson for 18 mil and let Arbeloa go for 8 mil when Arbeloa is a better player? But hey if Liverpoo want to go for it then im not complaining.

[crazy1 24]

i dont want to see him at Chelsea again. good player but i think bosingwa is better than him. and we want a left back as a substitute for ashley.

[Kez 2,727]

Looks like he's going to Liverpool. I'm relieved.

Liverpool expect to sign Glen Johnson within the next week after Portsmouth accepted their £18.5m bid for the England right-back and Chelsea withdrew from the race for their former employee. The deal will represent a significant breakthrough in the transfer market for Rafael Benítez, who learned today that Real Madrid's interest in Xabi Alonso has avowedly faded.

Johnson, along with David Silva and Gareth Barry, was a leading target for Benítez this summer and is clear to complete his move to Anfield after Liverpool matched Chelsea's offer for the 24-year-old last night. Though unable to compete financially with Chelsea and Manchester City, who also bid for Johnson, Liverpool are still owed £7m by Portsmouth from the deal that took Peter Crouch to Fratton Park last year. That will be written off as part of the Johnson fee, with Andrea Dossena and possibly Alvaro Arbeloa being sold by Liverpool to swell Benítez's budget beyond a net £20m.

Johnson considered a straight choice between Liverpool and Chelsea after opting against a move to City due to their lack of Champions League football. The England international had indicated to Anfield officials that he favoured a move to Merseyside and that decision became automatic when Chelsea decided against re-signing the player they sold for £4m in 2007. It is believed problems selling Jose Bosingwa may have forced Chelsea's sudden retreat, with the Stamford Bridge club unwilling to add another expensive right-back to their squad without offloading the £16.2m Portugal international.

Johnson's anticipated arrival at Anfield will be a major relief to Benítez following Barry's move to City and the possible repercussions for Alonso, a long-time target for the new Real Madrid ­president, Florentino Pérez, and a player who remains disillusioned with his relationship with the Liverpool manager.

The Anfield club have repeatedly insisted that Alonso is not for sale and, in the absence of any public declaration to the contrary from the player, Real's sporting director, Jorge Valdano, has claimed defeat in attempts to lure the Spain international to the Bernabéu. His interview with Marca, however, may also be an attempt to force Liverpool to lower their asking price for Alonso and part of a protracted strategy to sign the 27-year-old.

"Liverpool have issued an official statement to the public – Xabi is a player who has little chance of joining Real Madrid," said Valdano. "We tried hard to sign him a few years ago. We had a meeting with Real Sociedad but, when I left [Madrid], they lost interest in him."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ju...pool-portsmouth

[Laylabelle 9,305]

Looks like he's going to Liverpool. I'm relieved.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ju...pool-portsmouth

For £18.5m same!!Been a complete waste of money and time had we signed him

[ChelseaUSA 0]

maybe im wrong and maybe the rumors of us signing him didnt really have any weight to them, but i think that we "withdrew" from the bidding says we are gonna make a big signing. i think the fact that we arent signing him shows that we wnat to spend that 18.5 somewhere else as part of a bigger deal for a better player like tevez or ribery or someone

[Rambo 1,729]

Great news, Liverpool signed him!

[Wxgba 306]

Why would you want to bring in Johnson for 18 mil and let Arbeloa go for 8 mil when Arbeloa is a better player? But hey if Liverpoo want to go for it then im not complaining.

Do you honestly think that Arbeloa is better than Glen Johnson?

[Matterz 67]

Do you honestly think that Arbeloa is better than Glen Johnson?

Absolutely, not much better but definately better though. He is more consistent and reliable imo had a very good season for Liverpoo and does well when he plays for Spain. Glen is sometimes found wanting defensively but is pretty good going forward, he is def not worth 18 mil and why would Liverpoo want to lose 10 mil to bring in a replacement player at RB who is arguably not as good?

[ChelseaUSA 0]

Chelsea vs Liverpool for Glen Johnson

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/8...-Glen-hijacking

Chelsea last night hijacked Glen Johnson’s proposed £18.5m move to Liverpool.

The England and Portsmouth full-back had looked destined for Anfield after Chelsea appeared to lose interest in re-signing their former player.

But Johnson is now at the centre of a tug-of-war. Chelsea had a rival bid accepted – and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is in danger of missing out on another major transfer target, having already lost out on Gareth Barry.

Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie said: “Glen has got permission to speak to two clubs and I think that is what he is going to do.

“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 really is down to him and what club he prefers and from his own personal side which one is going to pay him more money.”

Meanwhile, Pompey’s prospective new owner has denied his £60m takeover is on the rocks.

Sulaiman Al Fahim has been replaced as chief executive of his own company, Hydra Properties, fuelling fears his deal for Pompey could be in trouble.

But his spokesman said: “The funding of the Portsmouth takeover is completely separate to the doctor’s work with Hydra. There is no relationship so there is no impact in terms of the takeover.

“The doctor remains totally committed to seeing through the takeover of Portsmouth. He will want to achieve his goal of becoming Portsmouth’s owner as quickly as possible, although that could yet take a few more weeks.”

[5354 204]

Whats the point of paying more for Johnson when Bosingwa didn't even say he want to leave Chelsea?

[EskWeston 696]

The only thing that makes sense is if we are using Bosingwa in a part exchange for Ribery, which is certainly possible.

[chrismada9 1,948]

The only thing that makes sense is if we are using Bosingwa in a part exchange for Ribery, which is certainly possible.

The thing is we have no chance of signing Ribery. Not when Man United and Real Madrid want him as well.

If we lose Bosingwa, and Ribery goes somewhere else, after we signed Glen Johnson, then we really would have egg on our faces!!

[EskWeston 696]

It doesn't seem very likely that we would have both Johnson and Bosingwa in our squad. IF we are seriously after Ribery and IF Bayern are seriously interested in Bosingwa then we have the leverage to make a deal work for both parties, Bosingwa and a lump of cash for Ribery.....

Maybe Bosingwa doesn't fancy staying on with us for next season for whatever reason? Maybe Ancelotti doesn't like Bosingwa and would rather Johnson?

[Rambo 1,729]

This is horrible, unless we are getting Ribery in return we have no fucking reason to sign Glen Johnson.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Whoever is in charge of making our Transfers should be shot dead.

Johnson Bought for 6m sold for 4m to Pompey. Loss of 2 million

Bosingwa bought for 16.5m reports say we will sell him for 15.5. Loss of 1 million. Inspite of a very good first season. This guy had messi in his pocket while playing out of Poisition. Doubt Glenn Johnson would be able to that even at RB.

Buy Johnson again for 17.5 million. Loss of 13.5 million of Johnson Transfer+ 1 million over Bosingwa transfer = 14.5m.

And by incurring all that loss we decide to go for Ribery.

Id rather keep a settled Bosingwa than have a Risky Johnson Back just cus we get Ribery. Bayern can Shove Ribery up their Arse.

I only hope Glen Johnson for the sake of his career and Chelsea opts for Liverpool.

[Badboy 1,526]

I agree with warnie someone's been getting some bad advice.