Brendan Rodgers wants to keep full-back, Glen Johnson at the club according to The Liverpool Echo. The 30 year-old full-back has had an injury struck season thus far, but the manager wants to keep him at the club to keep the ‘experienced backbone’ to the squad.
Johnson, who has been linked with a move to Italy, had hinted at previous contract talks possibly breaking down. According to The Guardian, Brendan Rodgers has intervened with Johnson and the club’s ‘stand-off’ and has expressed his desire to keep the England international at the club. The deal is likely to mean his wages have been reduced, as he’s currently on £120,000 p/w, which makes him one of the top earners at Liverpool.
Rodgers, talking about Johnson’s contract negotiations and if there was any updates:
“There’s nothing new as yet but I am hopeful he will stay and hopeful that we can find a solution and keep him here.”
“Like every player, he wants that security and for it to be sorted earlier than it is now but he also realises he is at one of the biggest clubs in the world with a team that is growing. He would want to be a part of that. I think he is more than happy to work with the club to find a solution for him to stay. He loves being here.”
Rodgers also added:
“His game will maybe adapt over the coming years. He’s not the marauding full-back of six, seven years ago but he’s still a quality player with experience. He is one that we are looking to keep and, between the agent and the club, hopefully we can organise something.”
Liverpool have a mainly young squad, and with Steven Gerrard leaving in the summer, it’s clear Rodgers wants to keep the experienced players with Martin Skrtel’s name also being mentioned as far as new contracts go.
