Liverpool defender Glen Johnson have admitted that talks over a new long term contract have fallen “very quiet”.
The England international will become a free agent next summer and could sign a pre-contract with any foreign club in January.
Liverpool are thought to have offered him a 12-month extension to his £120,000-a-week deal, but Johnson is seeking a long term contract at the club.
When asked to comment on his contract situation, Johnson replied that he is not thinking about it but definitely wants to stay at the club.
“I am just concentrating week by week and not thinking about it. Of course I want to stay but, like I say, I worry about this week, this week, and then next week, next week. That is how I live my life,” he said as quoted by The Guardian.
Liverpool have secured Daniel Sturridge on a new five-year deal last week and are planning to offer long term contracts to Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson.
Johnson, 30, is still an important player to Rodgers’ plans, but Liverpool probably want to keep him on a short term deal keeping his age in mind.
Most importantly, Liverpool have necessary back-up at the moment. John Flanagan, injured at the moment, is ready to play week in week out now having impressed last season, while Javier Manquillo, on loan from Atletico Madrid, looks like an interesting prospect.
Furthermore, Johnson’s performance over the past 18 months hasn’t been outstanding. In fact, it won’t be a wrong assessment, if we say, his performances are at best ‘average’ and no where near to the levels of some of the league’s top performers like Seamus Coleman or Pablo Zabaleta. He won’t be a huge loss for the club should he leave next summer on a free transfer.
Johnson made his comeback with a substitute appearance in Saturday’s victory over West Brom but will have to wait a fortnight for his next chance when Liverpool take on QPR in the Premier League.