Rumour: Glen Johnson contract talks with Liverpool reach a deadlock

Glen Johnson of Liverpool in action during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at The Hawthorns

Liverpool have reached a deadlock with Glen Johnson following negotiations over the defender’s contract extension, report the Daily Mail.

The right-back, who was recently named in Roy Hodgson’s England World Cup squad, has entered the final 12 months of his current deal and has been offered a further year by the Merseysiders.

However, the 29-year-old is believed to be keen to secure a longer contract that will keep him at the club into his early thirties.

But with the Anfield outfit assessing other options and discussing numerous potential transfer targets they have no plans to make a revised offer to Johnson at present.

The defender has received widespread criticism following a string of uninspiring displays during the run-in, with the majority of fans’ anger directed towards him after the capitulation at Crystal Palace.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is set to be handed a significant transfer budget ahead of the club’s Champions League campaign next season, with new additions to the defensive line widely expected given the amount of goals that were leaked en route to their second place finish this year.

Meanwhile, if Johnson fails to agree an extension this summer, he is more likely to be sold as Liverpool will be willing to recoup some of the £17.5 million they paid Portsmouth for his services in 2009 rather than lose him on a free transfer next summer.