Saints are said to be looking to target the purchase of a left back in the summer transfer window as rumours abound of a big money move for Ryan Bertrand.

It is being reported in Spain that Saints are considering a bid for Real Betis left back Riza Durmisi. Although it sounds like he is an Eastern European he was born in Denmark of Albanian descent and has so far won 15 caps for that country at full International level.

Durmisi signed for Real Betis last summer for 2 million Euros and penned a five year contract with a buy out clause worth ten times that, although it is likely that Betis will accept perhaps half of that.

He was linked with a move to Liverpool back in January but they do not seem interested in pursuing the move in this window.

Able to play as a conventional left back, wing back or even as a winger, he seems just the sort of player that Saints would be attracted to due to his versatility.

The big question though is why Saints would be interested in a left back with three already at the club ?

The answer would be that Ryan Bertrand might be sold this summer, Bertrand was an ally of Jose Fonte in the dressing room before his departure to West Ham and was one of the players rumoured to have fallen out with Claude Puel, turning 28 on the eve of the coming season he knows that he spent too long at Chelsea as a fringe player and various loans before joining Saints three years ago.

The move to St Mary's saw his career take off and now he is in demand with both Manchester City and former club Chelsea linked, he knows that this is perhaps his last chance of a truly big move, in a years time he will be a little too old for a long term big contract.

For their part Saints could be tempted with a bid of somewhere north of £20 million, but clearly feel that neither Matt Targett of Sam McQueen are the answer at the moment.

Targett is highly rated at St Mary's but injuries and issues that Ronald Koeman had with him have meant he hasn't pushed on as much as the club would have hoped in the past couple of seasons, but he is seen as a long term option.

Sam McQueen was converted to full back last year and initially had a series of decent games in that spot, but there is a feeling that this was more of a flash in the pan than an indication that in the long term he would be the answer in this spot, he started only 5 games in the Premier League with another 8 as sub, but was used infrequently after Xmas.

Photo: Action Images

highfield49 added 09:38 - Jun 26 Fair enough, straight swap of Bertrand for Nathan Ake will give us a Dutch centre back pairing. Or not.
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bstokesaint added 12:38 - Jun 26 I respect Ryan for effectively dropping a level to play from a CL winning team to play for us, so that he could get regular game time. I think his body language in the last few matches did kind of suggest he wasn’t happy. I don’t blame him if he wants out for a last big money move and full backs are positions we have historically filled well for cheap. I guess the biggest concerns are again the facts that it weakens our position (of retaining our players) in the eyes of the footballing world and poses the question of how much of this money will actually be reinvested? Ideally all of it.

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SaintBrock added 14:07 - Jun 26 Puel has gone, that was then, this is now. Only a brain-dead numbskull would even contemplate selling Ryan Bertrand and as for the man himself, he has found a home here, loves it and has realised his potential. Double his pay if we have to but keep him sweet. In any case he says he is happy here and his family is settled so why does he need all the upheaval and uncertainty of changing clubs.

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SonicBoom added 15:08 - Jun 26 Well Saint Brock he might be happy here, but he lives in Cobham a few minutes from the Chelsea training ground so he never really moved here with his family did he...
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ExiledSupporter added 22:12 - Jun 26 So that's a relief, proof positive that despite the prospect of selling our outstanding centre back, our two international full backs and our other first choice defender (in January), we can be re-assured that we are not a selling club, despite appearances. Surely this shows why Koeman was justified in leaving (and what a welcome for the new manager) and so much for team continuity and stability !

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Muzza added 22:32 - Jun 26 Agree bstokesaint hasn't looked happy last half dozen games.In fact since he came back off England duty.A bit Lallana like really. Thought Sam Mcqueen looked as though he could do the job given game time.Got forward well,and Prem defending comes with experience. If Bertrands head has gone,let him go,thank him for all he's done and make a profit! Having said all that would prefere it if he stayed and played like we know he can...will the change of manager make a difference??

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SanMarco added 00:05 - Jun 27 I am with Exiled on this one - we had as good a defence as anyone in the early months of last season. It is now odds on that they will all be gone by August - its no way to operate, unless profit is ALL you care about.
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warrens76 added 16:57 - Jun 27 Agree with exiled...I cannot believe the support for this board when without needing to our billionaire owner keeps stealing the dream, worse still it's so small minded, had the mission been followed through in 2014 we would be a big club, not a mega club, that ship sailed however again a big club..equal to Everton, Newcastle etc, the methods employed by KL's advisors are only about eliminating risk, growth and a future major push are not remotely on the agenda.. As for the Chinese, they are borrowing the money to by us, so KL who wants to eliminate debts owed to her wants to cash in 200 million and hand the debt to the club...work it out.

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