Benitez lauds impending Johnson capture

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez lauded his club's impending capture of right-back Glen Johnson from Portsmouth on Tuesday, even if he had to shell out a top-dollar fee of a reported 17 million pounds (25 million dollars).

"Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more," said Benitez.

"You can't compete in the top four of the Premier League unless you spend some money.

"We were looking for a player of quality and also somebody who is British because of the new Champions League rules.

"Glen Johnson fits both categories," Benitez insisted after landing the player who had also interested former club Chelsea.

Liverpool are formally due to complete the deal later this week.

Some of the fee will be written off with Portsmouth still owing money on Peter Crouch's move from Anfield to Fratton Park last year.

Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie revealed last Friday that Chelsea had matched Liverpool's bid for the England defender after Liverpool appeared to be in the driving seat to land his services.

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."

According to UEFA Champions League rules, as of 2009/2010 at least eight players have to be "locally-trained" in a squad which has registered a maximum of 25 players.

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babel has until jan 1 2010
he has not been effective enough, to often cost points !
a performance like against arsenal in the champion league is not every week....
i liked him as a player by ajax but at the moment he just keeps on blocking space !
instead of beating the player and getting the cross in he goes for glory ...
From Raphael, on Wed 24 Jun 8:59AM
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Carragher, dead wood for years cost pool many points, own goals against UTD a speciality !! can't sell him no one will buy him Oh shock what a thought gotta have more than one scouse in the team Yawn yawn !!
From Pete H, on Tue 23 Jun 8:21PM
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Liverpool best teamfor new season reina arbeloa_skrtel/agger_carragher_aurelio kuyt_macherano/alonso_riera gerrard torres_babel
From ryan_roshan19, on Tue 23 Jun 2:46PM
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09-10 LFC squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Gulacsi - Johnson, Darby, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, San Jose or Kelly, Aurelio, Insua - Mascherano, Alonso???, Gerrard, Lucas, Spearing, Benayoun, M.Moralez(VelezS.) - Kuyt, Torres, Babel, Ngog, Aguero(Atl.M.). Keep Alonso and Arbeloa if it's possible! In my opinion Voronin is also a worthy player for the Reds! Sell: Degen, Dossena, Plessis, Pennant, Leto, El Zhar.
From damnsoldja, on Tue 23 Jun 2:40PM
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We'll register, Carragher, Johnson, Insua, Gerrard, Darby, Spearing, Kelly and most probably Nemeth and I don't think Arsenal will be in trouble as I'm sure Locally trained means they can be foreighners aslong as they've been at the club a certain amount of time.
From resentdtox, on Tue 23 Jun 2:13PM
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GR8
From Michael, on Tue 23 Jun 1:46PM
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Arsenal is gonna be in trouble lol
From Mr scott, on Tue 23 Jun 1:46PM
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