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Johnson must decide over big two
Portsmouth, 09:15, June 19, 2009 ,
Glen Johnson must choose between a move to Liverpool or Chelsea after the Blues matched the Reds' £17.5million bid for the defender.
Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie has revealed he has now accepted a bid from Chelsea for the 24-year-old after confirming earlier in the week he'd given the green light to an offer from Liverpool.
Storrie says the bids are almost identical so it will be up to the England full-back to decide where to go, although a move to Anfield remains his preferred choice rather than going back to Chelsea where he spent a frustrating four years between 2003 and 2007.
"The matter will come to a conclusion at the beginning of next week. I do not have a preference over the move, it is up to Glen," Storrie said.
"The deals are almost identical so it really is down to him and what club he prefers, which one is going to pay him more money."
The fact it's the World Cup next summer means Johnson will want to play regular football wherever he decides to go and it would seem he would have a better chance of that at Liverpool rather than Stamford Bridge with Jose Bosingwa currently Chelsea's first-choice right-back.
"It's a big year for him with the World Cup coming up," Storrie added.
"Playing Champions League football will make him an even better player than he is today.
"Glen wants to play regularly in the Champions League, he has got himself back in the England side so I understand that. Sometimes you have to be fair to players."