I sometimes think people completely forget about our players on loan ie Andre Wisdom. He's been playing regularly in the championship with Derby, doing well, and he already has decent premier league experience.
Why hold on to an ageing, overpaid and over-rated player, when you have a younger, hungrier and potentially better one waiting in the wings? That's not to mention the likes of Flanagan, and Kelly if he comes good again. I'm all for cutting ties with Johnson and letting some foolhardy manager who doesn't mind paying big wages(well hello Harry Redknapp) take him off our hands.