Saints fail with Johnson loan bid
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has scuppered Coca-Cola Championship side Southampton’s bid to sign full-back Glen Johnson on loan.
The 21-year-old has made just one appearance for the Blues this season and looked out of sorts during England’s recent friendly defeat by Denmark, prompting speculation he could look for a loan move to gain regular first-team football.
Johnson has also been linked with a switch back to former club West Ham but, according to Saints boss Harry Redknapp, Mourinho is not interested in letting him go out on loan.
“Jose won’t let him come but I would have taken him,” Redknapp told BBC Radio Solent.
“They need their players for the Champions League so there is little chance of Glen coming.”
Redknapp is still searching for a striker, but admits he is finding it a frustrating process.
The Saints have drawn their last five league matches, and their lack of potency in front of goal was illustrated during Saturday’s stalemate against struggling Plymouth at St Mary’s.
Redknapp said: “It’s hard to find loan players – who is going to loan you anyone good enough at this time of the season?
“Everyone is looking for a goalscorer, but the Premier League clubs want to keep hold of them and no-one in this division is going to do you any favours.”
