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 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.
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 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.
1 comment:
expensive signing
http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2009/06/glen-johnson-liverpool/
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