Blues enter the hunt for Reds target Johnson

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez’s summer plans may not be as straightforward as he would have wanted as it seems he faces another transfer battle.

Having spent the last couple of weeks attempting to fend off interest in midfielders Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano from Real Madrid and Barcelona, it now appears Chelsea are competing with the Merseysiders for the signature of Portsmouth defender Glen Johnson.

Liverpool were in pole position to bring in the England international for a fee, which includes money still owed to them from the transfer of Peter Crouch to Pompey, believed to be around £17million (€20m).