Chelsea and Liverpool are reportedly battling for Southampton left back Ryan Bertrand.
Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand looks dejected
According to The Mirror, Chelsea and Liverpool are both interested in signing Southampton left back Ryan Bertrand this summer, with the defender angling for a move.
Bertrand, 27, came up through the ranks with Chelsea following a 2005 move from Gillingham, with his most notable start for the club coming in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
After nine loan spells away from Stamford Bridge and 57 first-team appearances for the Blues, Bertrand decided to leave Chelsea permanently in 2014, joining Southampton as Luke Shaw’s replacement – and he hasn’t looked back.
Bertrand, now an England international with 12 caps to his name, Bertrand has made more than 100 appearances for the Saints, though his time on the South Coast appears to be coming to an end.
Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand in action with Liverpool’s Adam Lallana
The Mirror claim that Bertrand wants to leave Southampton this summer, with Chelsea keen to re-sign him and Liverpool looking to make him their latest signing from the Saints, following on from Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Rickie Lambert in recent years.
Chelsea already have Marcos Alonso at left wing back in their 3-4-2-1 system, but the Blues could see Bertrand as competition for that role, as well as being a homegrown player for the Champions League next season.
Liverpool’s Connor Randall in action with Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand
Liverpool are in desperate need of a left back, given that Alberto Moreno appears to be heading for the exit and midfielder James Milner has been forced to fill in at left back this season, with Bertrand the ideal transfer target for the Reds as they look for a dependable left back.
Southampton won’t want to lose Bertrand without a fight, but with the player allegedly making it clear to team-mates that he is on his way out of the club, Liverpool should be looking to land him this summer and reunite him with Clyne and Mane in a smart move.
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