Conte will be taking charge of Chelsea this summer, after he finishes his commitments with the Italian national team currently participating in the Euros 2016. Chelsea had a disastrous last season, where they just managed to sneak into the top half of the table, after having been accorded the record for the worst title defense in Premier League history. Conte will have a huge task at hand trying to get this group of players firing again. With the exception of Willian, everyone else in that Chelsea squad struggled to find any sort of form last season. The Italian will be tasked with a target of getting the Blues back in the top four at the minimum.
Antonio Conte will be on the lookout for players, who can add quality to the squad and also lift the mood around the Stamford Bridge. One player who has been recently linked with Chelsea, is their former left-back Ryan Bertrand. The 2014-2015 champions allowed Bertrand to join Southampton few years ago after they felt that he was surplus to requirements at the Bridge. From the time, Ashley Cole left Chelsea, the club has lacked a full back of his quality. Ironically it was Bertrand who was touted to be his successor before he was dispatched to St Mary’s. Currently the left back is involved with England national team at the Euros and is also one of the first names on the team sheet at Southampton.
Here are three reasons why Chelsea should re-sign Bertrand this transfer window.
Left Back Cover
Ever since the Cole left Chelsea to join Roma, the Blues have lacked a proper full back, who can add solidity on the wings and contribute in the final third too. Cesar Azplicueta has filled in mostly in that position ever since, although that’s not his preferred position. Bertrand an understudy to Cole during his time at Chelsea, was supposed to take his fellow countrymen’s spot in the starting eleven. However with his departure Chelsea were left with no viable option, something they haven’t been able to rectify till date. Hence signing back Bertrand becomes more important this time around.
Home Grown Player
Bertrand holds the invaluable status of being a home grown player due to his time in the Chelsea youth set up. At a time when quality English players are one in a million and every club must fill their home grown quota, the signing of Bertrand could prove to be a master stroke by Conte. Terry has been given a one year extension on his contract, which means that he will likely leave within a year, Conte could do with a finished product like Bertrand in his team, who also happens to be English.
Experience and solidity
Although many might not realize it but Bertrand is now 26 years old. During his career he has not only picked valuable international experience but has also earned close to 50 Premier League caps with Southampton. He was also part of the famous 2012 Munich final, where he showed that he doesn’t crumble easily under the weight of enormous expectation. Having played in England all his life, the Southampton full back won’t need time adjusting to the pace of the League and can start performing well from the start