Southampton Transfers: 10 Players To Buy This Summer

7. Ryan Bertrand

Assuming the likelihood of Shaw moving on this summer, Southampton will undoubtedly need a replacement left back. Part of the reason why the teenage prodigy has already racked up over 50 Premier League appearances at the age of 18 is the lack of other options available at the St. Mary's. Reserve option Danny Fox was a decent performer in Saints' Championship promotion season, but is in no sense a Premier League quality player. Ryan Bertrand was at one time tipped as a replacement for Ashley Cole in both the England and Chelsea teams and, although he has not quite lived up to that promise, he remains a capable young left back. Aston Villa have expressed an interest in a permanent deal for Bertrand, currently on loan from Chelsea, but nothing is finalised. It would make sense, were Shaw to decide to join Chelsea, for Saints to attach a deal that saw Bertrand going the other way as a makeweight. They would only have to spend the money on a new left back anyway and Bertrand fits the pattern of successful recent Saints signings as a player who is still young and improving. Back in 2003, Chelsea's signing of talented Saints youth product Wayne Bridge at left back saw Graeme Le Saux move in the other direction. In the long run, it's probably fair to say that Southampton got the better of that deal.