Premier League - Benitez defends Johnson price

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Jun 14:10:00 2009

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended his decision to pay over the odds for right-back Glen Johnson, even though he admitted the deal has cost him more than he had hoped.

FOOTBALL Portsmouth full back Glen Johnson, linked with a a move to Chelsea - 0

The Portsmouth defender has agreed to move to Anfield and he is expected to formally sign a contract in the next couple of days. Reports suggest the transfer is costing £17 million, although much of that will be written off because of money still owed by Pompey after Peter Crouch's move to Fratton Park last summer.

"Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more," said the Liverpool boss. "You can't compete in the top four of the Premier League unless you spend some money."

He added: "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."

The fact Benitez has been able to make his first summer signing will help fend off claims the club are in financial trouble.

Kop Holdings, the club's parent company, posted a £42.6m loss in the year to August 2008 but concerns over the £350m loan taken out by American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to buy Liverpool appear to have lessened after reports on Tuesdsy suggested a refinancing package had been agreed.

Benitez is confident he will make other signings, although he may spend more of his time trying to hang on to the likes of Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Javier Mascherano who have all been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"We have a plan. We can sign one more player if necessary, but that's without any players leaving," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"Alvaro Arbeloa has had a very good season but he has one year left on his contract.

"If he signs that will be good because we will have more competition, but if we get a good offer we will have to consider it."

PA Sport

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    you seem to know a lot about NERDS and GEEKS you scouse­ foulmouth, must be cos those are the people you mix­ with 24/7

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 9:07PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Typical garvey, getting personal on a loserfool site­ defending rif rafas signing of Johnson, just prior to­ the expected loss of the three players mentioned

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 9:05PM

  3. Thats it boys give it to them nerds, mike and silent­ assisin. They are only geeks that sit at their pc's­ all day,NO NOTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL, have no friends­ apart from each other and have nothing better to do and­ come on liverpool information pages and talk s.h.i.t.­ Losers. Im off to live life unlike them geeks sitting­ at their pc for 12 hours. NERDS. LMAO.

    From Howard, on Tue 23 Jun 9:04PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    and garvey, why would the police be after scouse hater­ ?

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 9:02PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    whats that Pete, as in You Always Win Nothing PMSL

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 9:01PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    is that meant to say spratt and you're dyslexic

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 9:00PM

  7. only queers and sailors are called garvey

    From mike, on Tue 23 Jun 8:58PM

  8. hgarvey they will have a long way to go you little pri­ c k

    From mike, on Tue 23 Jun 8:58PM

  9. leave it silent, he is just a numpty car thief

    From mike, on Tue 23 Jun 8:57PM

  10. bye bye tevez bye bye ronaldo giggs and scholes­ collecting pensions and berbatov on the bench so thats­ why no one wants to sign for old red nose lol

    From rawest1, on Tue 23 Jun 8:57PM

  11. whats a manc scum bag doin on here anyway-trry­ following ya own @#$% team ya looser

    From LAWRENCE, on Tue 23 Jun 8:57PM

  12. YNWA is an anagram for YAWN !!!

    From Pete H, on Tue 23 Jun 8:55PM

  13. got it right in one mike, garvey is a scouse with a­ mouth, nothing unusual there, typical of his kind. Has­ to get personal when he can't make his point but­ it's water off a duck's back YNWA = you never­ win anything ROFLMFAO

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 8:51PM

  14. Mike., i heard u were scouse hater, back so soon.­ Someone told me the fuzz was after u. lmao. Ur­ girlfriend, silent assisin, has been uncovered as a­ geek who sits at a pc for most of his dull life,­ boo-hoo. Come-on, defend your boyfriends honour. LMAO

    From Howard, on Tue 23 Jun 8:51PM

  15. you don't upset me because you're a nobody and­ your opinion of me doesn't matter either because­ you don't know me

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 8:44PM

  16. hgarvey you are a to s ser

    From mike, on Tue 23 Jun 8:43PM

  17. afternoon lads... see the page has descended into­ mayhem... must be the scouse car thieves kicking it off­ again..

    From mike, on Tue 23 Jun 8:43PM

  18. Lmao, Nice reply. Ignore my rant, a true rant at­ that.,lol. I shouldnt be picking on u. Its not nice­ being a nerd and having no real friends. I will reply­ to what u asked me there.Yes silent, i will be quiet­ upset if the players u mention leave and yes, I wouldnt­ be laughing. There, is that ok for u....pal.

    From Howard, on Tue 23 Jun 8:40PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    No police at Scouse haters door and for your­ information I play it and referee it. Bye

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 8:37PM

  20. Mascherano Alonso and Arbeloa are on their way out of­ Loserfool, then see who's laughing

    From the silent assassin, on Tue 23 Jun 8:35PM
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