{"id":590951,"date":"2021-05-11T12:42:53","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T16:42:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=590951"},"modified":"2021-05-11T12:42:53","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T16:42:53","slug":"ac-milan-target-ryan-bertrand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/05\/11\/ac-milan-target-ryan-bertrand\/","title":{"rendered":"AC Milan Target Ryan Bertrand"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to Nizaar Kinsella of Goal<\/a>, AC Milan<\/a> target\u00a0Ryan Bertrand as a free transfer this summer. The left-back has not renewed his contract with Southampton<\/a>, meaning clubs will be able to pursue him without a transfer fee. However, Milan are not alone in the race, with\u00a0Arsenal<\/a>, Manchester City<\/a>, and Monaco also showing interest.<\/p>\n

AC Milan Target Ryan Bertrand on a Free Transfer<\/h2>\n

Current Milan Full-Backs<\/h3>\n

Milan’s two starting full-backs are set in stone. Theo Hernandez is an explosive left-back, capable of scoring goals and providing assists. His blistering speed and excellent crosses give him traits of a winger, while he’s constantly growing as a defender. In Milan’s 3-0 victory over Juventus<\/a> last time out, Hernandez was unstoppable. He participated in nearly every meaningful Milan movement while keeping Juventus’s attack at bay.<\/p>\n

Davide Calabria is Milan’s starting right-back. The homegrown\u00a0Primavera\u00a0<\/em>product has been a starter for a couple of seasons now, but this year is his best season to date. He doesn’t offer as much offensively as Hernandez (although he certainly does participate) but excels in defence.<\/p>\n

The back-ups include Diogo Dalot and Pierre Kalulu. This is where Bertrand comes into play as Dalot shows inconsistencies. With that being said, he’s on loan from Manchester United<\/a>, so it’s unlikely Milan will pursue a permanent deal. Kalulu is still very young but has put in solid performances. He can’t be relied upon yet as a top fullback bench option, so Milan must add more experience to the squad.<\/p>\n

What Ryan Bertrand Offers<\/h3>\n

First and foremost, Bertrand is a very experienced player. Milan’s squad is youthful, so adding that experience is key, should they qualify for Champions League.<\/p>\n

Bertrand has played for a plethora of clubs in England, mostly on loan from Chelsea<\/a>. He left in 2015 to join the Saints. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Bertrand was primarily a back-up, but he did start in Chelsea’s victory in the 2012 Champions League final over Bayern Munich<\/a>.<\/p>\n

All in all, Bertrand will bring solid defence and European experience. His playstyle in the past can be compared to Hernandez’s, albeit not at the same level.<\/p>\n

Bertrand is a strong option to bring in as a backup left-back. There’s no reason for Milan not to pursue this, especially on a free transfer. The two other English clubs in contention will surely be top competitors for Bertrand’s signature, however.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>