Ryan Bertrand of Southampton is linked with a transfer move to Leicester City. (imago Images)
According to Sky Sports, Leicester City have agreed on a deal to sign Ryan Bertrand on a free transfer. The former Chelsea full-back has immense experience playing in England.
Bertrand, who is now 31 years old, was available as a free agent after 7 years of service at St. Mary’s, and we look at why he could be a wise acquisition by Brendan Rodgers for his Leicester side.
Leicester City, under Brendan Rodgers, fielded formations that either featured four defenders at the back, or a system with 3 centre-backs and two wide midfielders that double up as wing-backs. But as the image below indicates, they did not have a fixed natural left-back to deploy in that position, resulting in multiple players being used there.
Timothy Castagne and Ricardo Pereira have prominently featured at right-back under Rodgers, as visible during the latest season. While it can be handy to use right-backs on the left flank if the situation calls for it, doing it for the course of the entire season showcases the lack of squad depth. James Justin is a versatile full-back that can be used on both flanks.
But even he was not trusted by Rodgers to start regularly for the course of the season. Christian Fuchs, on the other hand, has left the club for the MLS. That means the Foxes are one left-back short already.
While Castagne and Pereira’s services would mostly be required on the right-hand side, the 23-year-old Justin can fill in for Rodgers at left-back. Luke Thomas, Leicester’s talented 20-year-old youngster, also started 12 league games down that side for the lack of a more experienced option.
The pair do not boast of the experience that Leicester’s target Ryan Bertrand has under his belt.
Bertrand has had an astonishing 484 senior club appearances so far and was a full England international at one point.
The 31-year-old still has a few seasons left in him and Leicester’s young full-backs could benefit from having a senior figure in the same position as them.
He played 29 games for the Saints last time around, and the left-footed defender can similarly be a sturdy option for Rodgers over the course of next season. Given that he is arriving as a free agent, the deal is as safe as it can get.
They can get a few years of service from a seasoned English left-back who knows the league well. They would not have to pay anything in terms of transfer fee for his services. With Fuchs gone, that also frees up the wage bill slightly.
And during that time, Thomas and Justin can be eased into the starting XI without the burden of a lot of starts, ensuring that they have time to develop. If Rodgers wants to continue the trend of last season where he used right-footed players in the left-back area, Bertrand’s left foot can also offer him a new dynamic for when he wants to rotate his squad in the domestic or European cup competitions.
