Southampton defender Ryan Bertrand has insisted he wants to commit his long-term future to the Saints and put pen to paper on a new deal amid reports that he is closing in on an agreement of fresh terms.
Bertrand has been an integral member of Southampton’s starting line-up so far this season as they have got off to a really strong start to the campaign. The experienced left-back has appeared in all but one of the Saints’ opening 14 Premier League matches, helping Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side record four clean sheets (Sofascore). That shows he continues to be a crucial performer at St Mary’s.
The 31-year-old’s is heading into the final few months of his current £70,000-a-week deal at St Mary’s, which means that he could potentially be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with a club from abroad in the January transfer window. That would leave the Saints with a real need to fill the left-back slot, with nobody in their squad pushing hard to supplant Bertrand.
Southampton are reportedly keen to tie him down to a new deal and the defender is thought to be close to agreeing fresh terms. The player has now spoken out to say that he wants to sign a new deal and commit his future to the club, adding that he is keen to remain part of what Hasenhuttl is building.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Bertrand said:
Definitely, I want to stay. That’s my thought process. I see myself staying here and it would be great to be part of this club for the long haul.
I’ve been here so long. I have still got plenty of years left in me. And to go beyond that and possibly work for the club even after.
I’m fully focussed on hopefully extending my contract here.
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Bertrand signing a new deal would be a major boost for the Saints, with Hasenhuttl seeing him as a key member of the team. The 31-year-old has been an impressive performer so far this season, averaging 1.9 tackles and 0.6 key passes per game in his 13 Premier League appearances (Sofascore).
Whilst Bertrand might not be able to get forward on the overlap as frequently as before, his calming presence on the left-hand side of their defence has been crucial to helping them become very hard to beat. It would likely cost the Saints a lot of money in the transfer window to replace a player of his ability and it therefore makes sense to secure his future for another couple of years.
However, Southampton will need to work on finding a potential long-term successor over the coming transfer windows; and if Bertrand remains at the club, he can be an invaluable mentor for a new arrival and help them to develop their game to suit Hasenhuttl’s system.
