FIRST SIGNING: Glen Johnson could be the first signing of the
summer
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.
