Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie has confirmed Chelsea have matched Liverpool's £17.5m bid for England defender Glen Johnson.Wow!
Pompey accepted a bid from Liverpool earlier this week and the 24-year-old looked set to seal a move to Anfield. However, Storrie has confirmed the Fratton Park club have also now agreed terms with Chelsea - Johnson's former club.
First of all, that's a lot of money. Especially for a right back. What really gets me is that these two clubs have settled, established internationals at that position. Liverpool have Arbeloa as their first choice and their defensive record has been excellent with him in the lineup. I guess they suffered when he was out or injured, most notably playing Martin Skrtel there. But Carragher has played wide before, though he may be too old (or too cranky and unwilling) to do it now. But they also bought Philipp Degen last year and presumably he won't be injured forever. Though maybe he will.
It seems that Liverpool's interest in this deal is financial in nature. Pompey owe them 7million pounds still for Peter Crouch and then they're hoping to get 8 from Real Madrid for Arbeloa. So they get Johnson, a more attacking option than Arbeloa for 2-3million. That's reasonable, but does seem a bit of deck chair shuffling.
Even odder is Chelsea's interest. For a club that claims to want to balance it's books, this much money for a full-back should be ridiculous on it's face. But to consider that they have not one or two, but three options at that position - Bosingwa, a full international in his prime; Ivanovic, who proved to be good cover in both central and wide roles; and Mancienne - an up-and-coming star (read GJohn, four years ago) - it just makes less and less sense.
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