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Chelsea are keen to re-sign their former player Ryan Bertrand to stem a growing injury crisis. The Blues' well-stocked defence has taken a hit after many of their stars have been sidelined with injury.
Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Andreas Christensen are all on the treatment table while Thiago Silva's fitness is in doubt after he missed Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur. In the absence of the veteran defender, Chelsea were forced to field the unproven Malang Sarr.
Although the Blues eventually won 2-0, it was far from a comfortable victory. Chelsea's defence was breached a few times, and it was only the quick intervention of Kepa Arrazibanaga that kept the scoreline intact.
Considering the uncertainty regarding the availability of their regulars and a congested fixture list, Chelsea are now looking for tried and tested lieutenants. As per Leicestershire Live, the Blues are monitoring Ryan Bertrard, looking to sign him this month.
Bertard is a product of the infamous Chelsea loan army. He started out in the Blues academy, but spent most of his time at Stamford Bridge out on loan. He played in just 28 Premier League games for the Londers between 2006 and 2015.
After featuring in nine loan spells for seven different clubs, including Southampton, Bertrard was eventually signed by the Saints in 2015 for a fee of around £10million. That was after he spent the 2014-15 season at Saint Mary's Stadium.
If the rumours are true, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia opens negotiations with Bertrand. That's because he is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
Ryan Bertrand has a chance to prove himself at Chelsea once again
Ryan Bertrand featured in the Premier League 192 times while at Southampton. The 32-year-old signed a two-year deal with Leicester City in July last year.
Having played 56 games for Chelsea across all competitions, the former academy player could slot seamlessly into the Chelsea backline. However, at 32, Bertrand is in the twilight of his career, so a loan option at this point could be the ideal middle-ground for all parties.
The Blues have no cover in the full-back positions, with only Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso available. Bertrand, who can play on both wings, has been limited to just four outings in the Premier League, and would relish a second chance to prove himself in London.
Billionaire owner Roman Ibrahimovic's generous spending also means Chelsea would have no problem covering a part if not all of Bertrand's wages. Should Bertrand sign for his former side, he could end up playing for Chelsea for an extended period. That's because the Blues have in recent years shown that they are not opposed to signing experience.
At 37, Thiago Silva is Chelsea's best defender, while Olivier Giroud was roped in from Arsenal when he was 32. Bertrand could be the next to continue the trend.
