Southampton remain confident that left-back Ryan Bertrand will extend his contract, reports Dan Sheldon of The Athletic. The 31-year-old has six months left of his current contract and is particularly catching the interest of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Ryan Bertrand Expected to Sign New Southampton Contract
Ryan Bertrand Remains an Integral Part of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Southampton Side
The former Chelsea man – who was a Champions League winner with The Blues – is still The Saints’ first-choice left-back and is still a vitally important player for Southampton. The defender himself is also keen on staying on the south coast and has no intention of moving on just yet, also stating his desire to end his career at St Mary’s.
The Saints are also looking for defensive cover, with a left-back quite high on their priority list. It seems that a move for such a defender would be to provide cover for the 31-year-old, rather than direct and imminent competition.
Bertrand’s contract talks are reportedly underway, and it only seems a matter of time until a deal has been reached, with both parties hoping to finalise a deal sooner rather than later.
A Missed Target for Mikel Arteta’s Men
Earlier on the window, the Southampton man emerged as a transfer target for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. The 31-year-old has often been linked with a move to the Emirates in recent years, with the latest rumour seemingly fizzling out too. Southampton are yet to receive a bid for the full-back and they would not be willing to sell him either, making a move to Arsenal very unlikely.
If he was to sign for the North London club, it is expected that he would be a back-up to Kieran Tierney, and with Bertrand arguably in his prime, such a move would not make too much sense.
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