Rafa Benitez’s signing of Glen Johnson has hit a snag as Portsmouth have accepted a £17.5million bid from Chelsea.

Benitez tabled a bid for Johnson on Monday, which was accepted.

The Liverpool boss was hoping to wrap up proceedings this week only for Chelsea  to barge in with a similar bid.

Johnson has told those close to him that he would be keener on a move to Anfield after a miserable stint with the Blues for four seasons, where he made only 35 starts between 2003 and 2007.

But Chelsea are trying to tempt the right-back back to West London with a mega-sized wage packet.

Johnson's departure from Pompey seems a given at this moment of time.

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 displays for Portsmouth last season was enough for Fabio Capello to promote him to England's number one right-back.

And with World Cup 2010 just under a year away, the former West Ham defender is aware that unless he plays in Europe next season, he could miss out on one of football's grandest tournaments.

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."