This time round Benitez is insistent that Xabi is not for sale, but only Alonso himself knows the damage that was done last summer during the Gareth Barry saga.
The manner in which he responded to the uncertainty to deliver an outstanding season is a measure of the man; and his importance to the team is in turn measured by the number of chunks taken out of him by opponents last season desperate to stop him dictating the pace and direction of play. Hopefully his obvious enjoyment playing for the team and the fans will override any lingering bitterness and persuade him to resist the siren Perez’s call.
And so to the first of the new arrivals, as it appears Glen Johnson will shortly put pen to paper on a £17m deal. I think most fans will be happy with this, though they might consider the fee a ‘bit toppy’ to quote the boys down the road. I’m not sure he was at the top of my list of priorities; I’d kind of given up on full-backs and had reached the conclusion to best leave well enough alone.
I suppose Johnson’s attraction is that he’ll give us more attacking options down the right, and indeed can easily play midfield.
My reservations about him are similar to those about Arbeloa: I’m not sure he’s strong enough defensively. So that sounds a bit of an expensive upgrade to me. Still, at least we’re shopping in Waitrose not Lidl, as requested.
No doubt there’ll be at least one more big signing; let’s just make sure neither Alonso nor Mascherano sneak out the back door while our attention’s elsewhere.
