Southampton are attempting to block Liverpool or Manchester City from signing Ryan Bertrand.
According to The Mirror, Southampton have told left back Ryan Bertrand that he will not be leaving the club this summer amid interest from Liverpool and Manchester City.
Bertrand, 27, joined Southampton on loan from Chelsea back in the summer of 2014, arriving as a replacement for Luke Shaw following his big-money move to Manchester United.
Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand looks dejected
After loan spells with Bournemouth, Oldham, Norwich, Reading, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, Bertrand was initially seen as a low-cost replacement for Shaw – but he has proven to be an exceptional signing.
Bertrand has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent left backs, and has established himself in the England squad, featuring more prominently than Shaw over the last year.
Unsurprisingly, Bertrand’s performances have triggered major interest, but The Mirror claim that he has been told that he won’t be leaving Southampton this summer, with Liverpool and Manchester City both keen.
Southampton have lost key names such as Dejan Lovren, Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama, Adam Lallana and the aforementioned Shaw in recent years, but they appear to be fighting tooth and nail to keep both Bertrand and Virgil van Dijk this summer.
Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand
New manager Mauricio Pellegrino won’t want to lose key players immediately following his arrival, and a dependable defender like Bertrand is vital, meaning it may take an outrageous bid to convince the Saints to sell.
Both Liverpool and Manchester City desperately need left backs, and Bertrand – who is adept both going forward and defensively – would have fit the bill, but Southampton’s hardline stance means they may have to look elsewhere.
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