Liverpool defender emerges as surprise target for Real Madrid

Liverpool may be going places, but they may have to get to said places without their best full-back if rumours linking La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a move for Glen Johnson materialise.

Johnson, one of the highest earners on the Anfield roster, is approaching his 30th birthday in August and so far the England man has not been able to agree an extension to his current Liverpool deal which expires at the end of the 2014/15 season.

The situation clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed at Real Madrid, who are reportedly waiting in the wings with a bid which could tempt Liverpool into selling Johnson in the summer.

Although Madrid have 22-year-old Spaniard Daniel Carjaval as their current first-choice right-back , it’s believed Carlo Ancelotti is not a huge admirer of his back-up, Alvaro Arbeloa, who could well make way.

Despite Johnson’s telling contribution in helping Liverpool become 3/1-title shots with eight games to play, it’s thought American owners Fenway Sports Group are reluctant to pay lucrative new deals to players who are 30 or above.

Earlier this year Johnson admitted: “I’ve loved every minute of the five years I’ve been here and I’d love to stay but really the only truth in it is that I’ve not been offered a new contract on any level.

“No-one has come to me from Liverpool at all. I don’t know the situation the club are in or if they want to renew it.

It seems unlikely that Brendan Rodgers would be happy to let one of his star performers leave with the prospect of the Champions League football next season, but the move may be out of the manager’s hands.

Johnson has proved to be one of the Reds’ outstanding players of the past few seasons since joining from Portsmouth back in 2009, where his roving runs have also led him to become a fixture for his country at right-back too.

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