Liverpool's capture of Glen Johnson from Portsmouth has been hailed as one of the swoops of the summer transfer window by the club's former winger Jason McAteer, who feels that the powerful right-back is just the kind of player the Reds need to boost their bid to end the long wait for a league title.
"Glen is the kind of player I'm really happy the club have brought in," McAteer told LFC Magazine. "He looks like he's nailed down the England right-back position now and from what I hear he's a great lad off the pitch as well. He'll be good to have in the dressing room, plus he already knows the Premier League inside out.
"Johnson is young and is exactly the kind of player Liverpool needed to sign. I think he will be a massive signing."
The player's versatility could be crucial as well, McAteer feels, with Johnson having turned in some sterling performances for Pompey on the right wing last season, providing a genuine attacking threat with his pace in wide areas.
"Johnson is very attack-minded and is also versatile," he added.
"He can play in midfield and I'm sure he could slot in at centre-half or left-back if required. At this level of the game, a right-back needs to have those strings to his bow.
"They have to be able to play wing-back, centre-half or as a conventional right-back to fit into various systems. That's why they don't come cheap. What Rafa's doing with Johnson is he's buying versatility. He's getting a player who can play in a variety of positions.
"That can be of particular use when you go into Europe where he's pitting his wits against some of the world's top managers. It gives him that flexibility to mix it up and throw different kinds of systems at them."
And McAteer, who has recently been appointed as assistant manager to John Barnes at Liverpool's cross-Mersey neighbours Tranmere Rovers, thinks that Benitez deserves much credit for the astuteness of the deal, adding that Liverpool beating their major rivals to the player's signature is a sign of the progress the club is making.
"That's all credit to Rafa. He's put himself in a very, very strong position in the transfer market," he continued.
"Whereas last season or the season before Johnson might have gone to Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United, it's a different story now when Liverpool start making enquiries.
"Players are getting enticed and it's whetting their appetites again. They know Liverpool are knocking on the door when it comes to the title and winning things.
"Liverpool signing Johnson under the noses of other clubs with Champions League ambitions is sending out a clear message that the Reds mean business again. That is certainly what Rafa will want to be telling everyone."
"Glen is the kind of player I'm really happy the club have brought in," McAteer told LFC Magazine. "He looks like he's nailed down the England right-back position now and from what I hear he's a great lad off the pitch as well. He'll be good to have in the dressing room, plus he already knows the Premier League inside out.
"Johnson is young and is exactly the kind of player Liverpool needed to sign. I think he will be a massive signing."
The player's versatility could be crucial as well, McAteer feels, with Johnson having turned in some sterling performances for Pompey on the right wing last season, providing a genuine attacking threat with his pace in wide areas.
"Johnson is very attack-minded and is also versatile," he added.
"He can play in midfield and I'm sure he could slot in at centre-half or left-back if required. At this level of the game, a right-back needs to have those strings to his bow.
"They have to be able to play wing-back, centre-half or as a conventional right-back to fit into various systems. That's why they don't come cheap. What Rafa's doing with Johnson is he's buying versatility. He's getting a player who can play in a variety of positions.
"That can be of particular use when you go into Europe where he's pitting his wits against some of the world's top managers. It gives him that flexibility to mix it up and throw different kinds of systems at them."
And McAteer, who has recently been appointed as assistant manager to John Barnes at Liverpool's cross-Mersey neighbours Tranmere Rovers, thinks that Benitez deserves much credit for the astuteness of the deal, adding that Liverpool beating their major rivals to the player's signature is a sign of the progress the club is making.
"That's all credit to Rafa. He's put himself in a very, very strong position in the transfer market," he continued.
"Whereas last season or the season before Johnson might have gone to Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United, it's a different story now when Liverpool start making enquiries.
"Players are getting enticed and it's whetting their appetites again. They know Liverpool are knocking on the door when it comes to the title and winning things.
"Liverpool signing Johnson under the noses of other clubs with Champions League ambitions is sending out a clear message that the Reds mean business again. That is certainly what Rafa will want to be telling everyone."
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