Could Benitez prove ace up Newcastle’s sleeve in Ryan Bertrand chase?

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Newcastle United are keen on Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand, but face competition for his signature from some of their Premier League rivals.

With The Sun reporting that Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are all also keen, Newcastle fans would be forgiven for feeling that they are the underdogs in the race to sign Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand this summer.

All three clubs have done deals this season that significantly eclipse Newcastle’s all-time record buy – which remains the £17 million that was spent on Michael Owen back in 2005, fee reported by BBC Sport – so it seems much more likely that they will be willing to offer the £25 million that Southampton are looking for before they sell the 28-year-old.

Given their rivals’ spending power, it may be fair to say that Newcastle may need an ace up their sleeve if they hope to sign Bertrand at the end of the campaign. But perhaps, in Rafa Benitez, the Magpies may have exactly that.

Benitez is not only a well-respected manager – the kind of manager who arguably makes Newcastle an even more attractive opportunity to potential signings – but he is also a boss that Bertrand has played under before.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Chelsea first-team when the Englishman arrived at Stamford Bridge, but he did not make a single appearance under the Special One. It was actually Benitez who seemingly gave the left-back the best chance to make the grade with the Blues.

No Chelsea manager picked Bertrand more often than Benitez did during his interim spell in charge of the club. So perhaps that faith shown in him may not be too far from his mind when he considers his potential options at the end of the season, especially given how hard it has been for youngsters to make the grade at Chelsea over the years.

He would be forgiven for being tempted by all four moves if the quartet all come with bids this summer. But in Benitez, there is a manager there he knows well and that may perhaps give Newcastle a real chance of winning a race that sees them look like significant underdogs on paper.