RAFA BENITEZ'S pursuit of England full-back Glen Johnson has stalled - after Portsmouth accepted a rival £17.5million bid from Chelsea.
Liverpool boss Benitez had an offer accepted for Johnson, 24, on Monday.
He was hoping to tie up the transfer this week only for Chelsea to have now matched the Reds' approach.
Johnson has told friends he favours a move to Merseyside after a miserable time at Stamford Bridge between 2003 and 2007, where he made just 35 league starts.
Yet Chelsea are hoping to tempt him back to the capital with a more lucrative wage package.
Johnson's departure from Fratton Park remains inevitable though.
Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie said: "The matter will come to a conclusion at the beginning of next week. I do not have a preference over the move, it is up to Glen.
"The deals are almost identical so it really is down to him and what club he prefers, which one is going to pay him more money.
"Glen wants to play regularly in the Champions League, he has got himself back in the England side so I understand that. Sometimes you have to be fair to players."
Johnson's performances for Pompey last season elevated him into the position of Fabio Capello's No 1 right-back.
And with the World Cup in South Africa less than 12 months away, he is conscious that unless he is playing Champions League football he could miss out.
Storrie added: "It's a big year for him with the World Cup coming up.
"Playing Champions League football will make him an even better player than he is today."
Also on his way is Pompey defender Djimi Traore, who is joining French outfit Monaco on a free.
The ex-Liverpool full-back was on loan last season at Birmingham and has failed to land a new deal at Fratton Park. He had a Monaco medical yesterday and is set to pen a three-year deal.
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Didier Drogba
