Don’t do it Glen! Why Liverpool star should shun a move to Italy
Published:
Liverpool are quite keen to keep Glen Johnson, but the right-back’s head has been turned in the direction of Serie A.
That’s the rumour that fills the gossip columns at the moment, as it is reported that the former Portsmouth full-back has turned down an offer to his extend his Anfield deal by two years in a bid to seal a move to Italy at the end of the season.
Johnson, whose current deal expires this summer, also rejected Liverpool’s on the basis that it included a 50 per cent wage drop and the former Chelsea man could now be on his way out of the Merseyside club as quickly as January.
Roma are thought to be the club the 30-year-old has his sights on, with the Giallorossi keen to add to their veteran English defender collection in pairing Johnson with Ashley Cole.
But, using his former England teammate as an example, Liverpool’s 147-game stalwart should shun the chance to move to Roma and stick with the 19/10 top-four shots.
Since switching to the Stadio Olimpico from Chelsea this season, Cole has performed at a middling level without ever securing his spot on the left side of defence for a significant period of time.
The 107-cap international has never started more than two games in a row for Rudi Garcia and doesn’t lead the team in any defensive statistic provided by whoscored.com.
If Cole’s Italian move looks ineffective at this stage, then Micah Richards’ decision to join Fiorentina can be filed under boneheaded.
The Manchester City loanee has suffered a hamstring injury during his time with the Viola, but the 10 days he was sidelined for isn’t a major factor in explaining why the right-back has only made four starts, only two of which have come in the league.
With two English full-backs failing to make their way in the defensively-sound surroundings of Serie A, Johnson should heed the warning and stick it out in England.
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