Eurosport - Sat, 27 Jun 14:54:00 2009
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists the signing of Glen Johnson does not mean Alvaro Arbeloa's days at Anfield are numbered.
England right-back Johnson, 24, completed his move from Portsmouth on Friday for a fee believed to be £17million, although much of that will be offset by money still owed from Peter Crouch's transfer to Fratton Park last summer.
Johnson's arrival increases the likelihood of Arbeloa leaving this summer, but Benitez has not ruled out the possibility of the 26-year-old staying.
"Arbeloa was a good player for us last year. He has one year left on his contract and we have offered him an extension and we're talking," Benitez said.
He added: "He is our player but if there is a good offer we have to consider it.
"We have two or three clubs asking about him. He would like to stay but he knows the competition will be hard."
Benitez has already accepted he paid over the odds for Johnson, but stressed there were many factors which made the deal the right one for the club.
After after a summer which has already seen the £59million transfer of Kaka - and the £80million move of Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid the Liverpool boss is happy with the outlay on his first signing of the summer.
"We knew the market was going to be difficult this summer and some of it has been crazy," said Benitez.
"Manchester City and Chelsea were there - they were making offers. We had to be quick and the club acted quickly.
"It was down to the player whether he chose us or City or Chelsea and he chose us. It was very clear from talking to him that he wanted to play for Liverpool."
Comment 4 - 23 of 23
Arbeloa is a quality defender who can also play left back and with Insua not being ready yet, Dossena just being plain @#$% and Aurelio being injury prone we he will get games there, there's talk of him being wanted by Real Madrid but personally would rather compete with Johnson rather than Ramos if I was him. Players going will/Should be Itandje, Dossena,Pennant and Voronin we should get around £9mill for that lot which pays for what Johnson cost on top of the Crouch settlement.I think we should sign 2 more players in Bentley who despite having a poor season is a very good player and a great crosser for Torres' and Kuyt's ariel abilities and would probably be available for about £8-9mill and Bent from spurs aswell who has proven for both Charlton and Spurs he can cut it in the premier league and again would be available for about £12mill.All this talk of Silva,Villa and the like is pointless if we haven't the money and besides look at big money signings in recent seasons...Shevchenko,Berbatov,Nani,Robinho,Keane and jo...all who have not justified their fees.Another bonus is the fact Bentley and Bent are English which can help in the champions league aswell.
He`s not a bad defender but nobody will care about him next season because Glen Johnson will be in the team for like all the games unless he is injured.
torres and tevez..
man u will be gutted
pauljudd6 - didn't your mother teaches you how to respect? I wonder why you pay so much attention to Liverpool? you're a disgrace to your family.
comment 2 if Manchester United fans drink cider,what do Scouse skip rats drink? METHS
COMMENT 1:
Johnson is english and there is a limit on foreign players in the champions league (remember Hyppia wasn't in the squad in europe for that resaon last season) YNWA
COMMENT 2:
Class
with degen injured and finnan gone we needed another right back. these are the facts. arbeloa had to play too many games last season and suffered injuries, if we do well again this season arbeloa and johnson will play plenty of a part each, diff weapons for diff opponents and tactics. the newsapers make up any old shi te. Rafa keeps saying we can sign another player without selling. the club keep saying our players are not for sale. As for agbonlahor, are you mental?
come on you pooll
listen jimmyrice i said you dont see many english players going abroad you muppet
there is always going to be trash talked, I do it too but its only banter.. dont take it seriously
Can I please make an appeal to everyone to report this loser Donney so he loses all privileges of posting his utter nonesense on the boards?
I'm sure we can get him an IP ban!
Yahoo boards should require stricter moderation in my opinion but the rubbish he's spouting is not only stupid but utterly utterly disgusting in light of the tragic loss of Michael Jacskon (I dont' care what you thought about him, making fun of anyone who passed away on a football board is NOT on!)
fuss is coz he aint worth 17mil in anyone but rafas eyes, and comment 1 what u on about no english players are abroad only becks or am i missing somethin
comment 1 is pretty good.. a first on here
Dose'nt matter,Liverfool are Kopshite anyway you look at it!!
Johnson chose Liverpool over Man City and Chelsea because Liverpool's expectations are much lower. Apparently according to the scouse muppet bin dippers a good season for Liverpool is winning nothing and coming second. I thank you.
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BENEETAZ AS A NOBHEED.
comment number 2 sounds like a scouser who has gained an average player in johnson and lost a great player in allonso
We need another world class stiker to partner torres
Arbeloa out HEEEEEEEEEEE HEE !!!!!
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