By dixon9
June 19 2009

Chelsea are adopting a stubborn doggedness in the battle with Liverpool for former right-back Glen Johnson. The transfer fee seems surprisingly high – almost too high – yet an apparent closed deal with Liverpool just a few days ago has just been gazumped by Chelsea with an £18m bid. Is the signature of Johnson indirectly influential in the clubs attempt to sign Ribery from Bayern Munich?

Bayern Munich have confirmed that they are in discussions with Chelsea over the transfer of José Bosingwa.  The sale of our right-back, who is one of the best in the business, doesn’t initially make sense - We don’t need the money and Bosingwa is happy at Stamford Bridge. 

So why sell him? I doubt that Ancelotti has seen enough of Johnson to prefer him to Bosingwa (and if he had, it’s unlikely that he would). I can only assume that Bosingwa is an important bargaining chip in the acquisition of Ribery.

True, Johnson has improved with regular football at Portsmouth although the impression of many Chelsea fans is that instead of 3-4 good games followed by a costly cock-up in the next (as witnessed in his previous era at Stamford Bridge) that this would only be extended to around 5-6 good games before a serious error.  That said, perhaps with the extra motivation of regular first-team football, his concentration would improve? 

One advantage with the purchase of Johnson is that he would slot into the Champions League player list without taking up a space for another as he was some years at Chelsea previously.  There is also the possibility of the UEFA 6+5 rule coming in – again, Johnson would help squad selection in that sense.

Nevertheless, it is now down to Johnson to decide:

“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,” said Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie.

“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.

Benitez may or may not leave the Liverpool bid as it is (he now has control over transfers) and should Johnson select Anfield as his destination, then Chelsea would need a back-up plan on another right-back (possibly Maicon from Inter which could be tied into the a Carvalho/Deco deal whom Mourinho has admitted he would like to sign). 

Certainly, if the Johnson deal falls through and we do go for another defender then we pretty much know that the Bosingwa/Ribery factor is not just a theory – and whilst we wait, time ticks by and the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United will all have time to close in on Ribery themselves – the advantage is that we have Bosingwa to exchange and they don´t.

Chelsea in Johnson Liverpool battle reveals Ribery ambition?

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 19/06/2009 15:41

50 Years Over 100 Years
19/06/2009 15:41

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magnumopus
19/06/2009 16:00

I think Johnson has had enough of Chelski and will sign with Liverpool!

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50_kwache
19/06/2009 16:58

Please could people look up the definition of "Gazumped" before using it. I've read it in about 4 different articles today, none of which are correct. It is defined as either ripping someone off, or asking an unreasonable price or it can mean to raise the price of something (or someone in this case) after an original price has been agreed. Clearly not appropriate in the Glen Johnson case. All thats happened is that Chelsea have offered the same amount of money, leaving a direct choice for the product, in this case a person, between Liverpool and Chelsea. Just thought I would educate you on this, as it is not the only word or phrase I've seen used in order to sensationalise an otherwise dull report.

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dixon9
19/06/2009 18:12

According to some reports one bid is higher than the other (see Storrie´s quote in the piece).

If you other 120,000 for a house and I then turn round and offer 125,000 then I have gazumped you haven´t I?



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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