Liverpool defender Glen Johnson may have been offered a cut-rate contract by the club despite doing little to warrant the consideration, but the experienced fullback is being tipped to snub the Reds to further explore interest from abroad.
The 30-year old is free to talk to clubs outside of the Premier League in January ahead of his contract expiring in the summer, but the new deal on the table came with a massive stipulation. Although the exact figure tends to vary based on the source, Johnson is currently one of the highest earners at Anfield with a pay-packet between £90k and £120k-a-week currently swelling his bank account. This sweet chunk of change would would be cut in half should he agree to the terms of the contract Liverpool have put on the table — something it’s rumoured he’s not willing to do.
Contract talks were apparently on-going throughout much of last year with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers calling on the defender all the way back in February to earn himself a new deal rather than expect one to be handed to him. “I think we all are – players and the manager” said the Anfield boss when asked last season if Johnson was playing for a new contract. “We are all fighting to be best that we can be for the club. Hopefully then the club sees that they want to keep you and improve you. Whether that’s Glen, the manager or whoever, we’re all fighting to stay here.”
Although there has been no official comment from either party, it’s believed that the fullback will be entertaining offers in January with a number of Italian clubs keen on his services. AS Roma, who signed Chelsea defender Ashley Cole over the summer under similar circumstances, are said to be the front-runner for his signature, though it’s unlikely that the Serie A side would be able to come up with an offer that’ll match anything close to the wages he’s accustomed to.
