Why Ryan Bertrand Would Be A Good Signing For Manchester City
Manchester City are planning a huge overhaul of their squad as manager Pep Guardiola looks to stamp his authority on the team after a disappointing first season in England.
The Citizens, in their bid to revamp the team, have released several first team players already. The likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Jesus Navas, Gael Clichy and goalkeeper Willy Caballero have all been shown the exit doors. At the same time, the club has shown great urgency in adding new faces to their ranks, having already completed the signings of exciting attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva from French champions AS Monaco and goalkeeper Ederson Moraes from Portuguese champions SL Benfica.
While that does represent business well done by the Sky Blues, they are still left pretty thin in the full back positions. Guardiola seems to have chosen Dani Alves as the man to solve the right-back woes temporarily, and is also intent on signing defender Kyle Walker from Tottenham Hotspur to solve the team’s right-back woes once and for all. He has also identified Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy as the man to take over the mantle of the left-back position.
However, Mendy is certainly an expensive option. This is probably why City also have an eye on Southampton full-back Ryan Bertrand (according to The Mirror). The 27-year old Englishman has been monitored by the Citizens for a few months now and the report also claims that league rivals Chelsea and Liverpool are also interested in the left-back, who is willing to consider a transfer.
Bertrand joined the Saints back in February 2015 from Premier League champions Chelsea, in search of regular first team football and has grown into one of the most consistent performers for the south coast club over the years. Arguably, one of the most underrated left-backs in the Premier League in recent times, the former Chelsea man has become a key member of the Saints’ setup as well as the England national team setup too.
This past campaign, Bertrand finished with 3 goals and 5 assists from 34 appearances across all competitions, helping the Saints to an 8th placed finish in the Premier League and a spot in the finals of the EFL Cup. However, the report claims that he is willing to consider a move away from the St. Mary’s as he looks to earn a move to a bigger club so as to challenge for trophies and play in the UEFA Champions League.
With his lung-bursting energy and his ball playing abilities, Bertrand will be the ideal fit for Manchester City’s requirements. The 27-year old English international is always on the prowl to get forward and possesses a mean left foot with which he can bombard crosses into the box while he is also not shy of having a go at the goal from distance.
Bertrand’s ability with the ball at his feet is something that will definitely have caught the eyes of Guardiola as he desires his full-backs to push into the midfield areas when his team are in possession of the ball. The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager has also made no secret of the fact that he would like to build his team around a core of English players and Bertrand’s homegrown status is something that is sure to appeal.
Southampton are in a strong negotiating position, considering that the full-back still has four years left on his contract, but City have demonstrated that money will not be an issue, having displayed their spending prowess in the transfers of Silva and Ederson. With Aleksandar Kolarov being the only left-back in the squad at the moment, a new signing in that position is a must for the Sky Blues and Ryan Bertrand seems to be a cheaper and a better option than Benjamin Mendy.