According to The Daily Mail, Leicester are eyeing up a summer swoop for Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand if Ben Chilwell departs the King Power Stadium.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Brendan Rodgers is believed to be an admirer of the 19-cap England international, who spent time with the left-back while the pair were at Reading together, while Bertrand also played under the Northern Irishman when he was a youth coach in Chelsea’s academy.
The Daily Mail also added that Rodgers was keen on a reunion with Bertrand when he was Liverpool boss.
Southampton’s No.21 has less than 18 months remaining on his current deal, with Inter Milan and Chelsea also believed to be monitoring the situation.
Where would this leave Nathan Redmond?
One thing that may not be common knowledge is the fact that Bertrand and Nathan Redmond are close friends, and enjoy a good partnership on the pitch as well.
The Daily Echo stated that he and the former Birmingham winger are ‘friends’ and that Redmond, Michael Obafemi and Jack Stephens all ‘look up to’ the left-back, while there is also a visible understanding between the pair on the field.
‘Being one of the senior members inside the Saints dressing room, Bertrand’s experience carries a certain weight. First team players such as Michael Obafemi, close friend Nathan Redmond and Jack Stephens all look up to the 30-year-old left-back.’
Redmond also jokingly called his teammate a “diva” in a sit-down with Soccer AM for their ‘Teammates’ segment – there is clearly a good relationship between the two of them.
Additionally, after a 4-3 win over Watford in the 2016/17 season, Redmond spoke of how beneficial it is to play ahead of Bertrand after he scored two goals against the Hornets, stating that the pair were “building a strong relationship” at the time.
“He’s always in my ear if I do something good or bad! To have someone strong like behind me is a good feeling and you know defensively you have a little bit less to do. We’re building a strong relationship and it’s showing.”
A little more recently following the 2-0 win over Chelsea this season, Eurosport saw fit to highlight the duo’s “great link-up down the left” in their match report.
‘Southampton soon grew in confidence, with Ryan Bertrand and Nathan Redmond enjoying great link-up down the left. The latter crossed after Stuart Armstrong broke through the middle and fed him, but Kurt Zouma and Antonio Rudiger eventually cleared.’
Can you remember how much each of these transfer icons cost? Only experts will get 100% on our quiz…
Of course, Redmond is a professional and will presumably get on with things, although it is an interesting point of discussion to wonder how he will cope with the potential departure of a close friend.
In other news, this one thing shouldn’t cloud Ralph Hasenhuttl’s transfer judgement for Southampton…