England full back Glen Johnson looks set to snub a return to Chelsea in favour of a signing for Liverpool this week.

Reports in The Times suggest that Liverpool offered £19m - more than Chelsea - and Manchester City who were also interested in signing the Portsmouth star.

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The successful bid comes after they struggled to raise the money to buy him when he was valued at about £8.5 million in January.

The Portsmouth and England right back subsequently signed a new four-year contract, but his future club appears clearer with Chelsea unwilling to match the fee for a player they sold for £4 million two years ago.

Rafa Benitez looks set to fund the deal by off-loading Andrea Dossena to Juventus, and possibly Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid.

Johnson has had a superb season for a struggling Portsmouth side, and with 19 caps to his name for the national team, the player appears to have usurped Gary Neville as England's long-term right back.

England coach Fabio Capello recently suggested he was his number one choice for the position leading up to next year's world cup in South Africa.

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