Johnson in Liverpool move as Benitez ready to splash out £18m on Portsmouth defender

16 June 2009 14:55
Liverpool are on the brink of signing Glen Johnson in a deal worth around £18million. Rafa Benitez appears to have won the race to sign the Portsmouthright-back after Chelsea cooled their interest in bringing him back toStamford Bridge. Liverpool to make their move. Photo: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. Johnson, 24, is desperate to join a big club as he aims to cement his spot in the England starting line-up ahead of next summer's World Cup finals. Chelsea, who sold Johnson to Portsmouth in 2007, were planning to launch a bid but they have now turned their attention elsewhere. Liverpool boss Benitez only has a small budget to blow this summer but they are still owed £7m from Portsmouth over the deal that took Peter Crouch to Fratton Park last year. The Reds may also bring in funds by selling their own right-back Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid. 

Source: Daily_Mail