Wolves’ reported Ryan Bertrand interest is very harsh on Barry Douglas

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If Southampton are relegated from the Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers will reportedly try to sign left-back Ryan Bertrand.

There is no room for sentiment in football, as a number of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Championship title winning squad could be about to find out.

John Ruddy has kept a hugely impressive 24 clean sheets between the sticks this season, earning him the Championship’s Golden Glove award, but his position is under threat with the Express reporting that Wolves want the England international Jack Butland from Stoke City.

And latest reports suggest that Barry Douglas, one of the surprise stars in this season’s Championship, could suffer a similar fate.

As reported by the Express, Wolves are monitoring Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand, the £25 million-rated England international set to leave St Mary’s if Mark Hughes cannot keep the side in the Premier League.

Bertrand has been one of Southampton’s key players in a golden period for the club and has continued to stand out this season, even as the south coast club have struggled badly.

In fact, the 28-year-old former Chelsea youngster is one of the best full-backs in the top flight. The Express reports that Tottenham are keen and Manchester City were linked in January, which shows just what a coup this would be for newly-promoted Wolves.

But a £25 million deal for Bertrand would be very harsh indeed on Douglas. The £1 million Scot has been a revelation, producing 14 assists and scoring five goals from left wing back and no player in the Championship has set up more.

But the Premier League is a cutthroat business and, if Wolves are to take the next step, this is the sort of difficult decision they must take.