Ryan Bertrand

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Serious question: Why let him leave?

I mean, even if we do sign Luis, we'll only have 2 fullbacks and 1 CB who can cover at FB in our entire squad! We got away with it in the second half of last season, but we can't get away with it next season if we want to challenge on all fronts.

[Madmax 9,219]

Serious question: Why let him leave?

I mean, even if we do sign Luis, we'll only have 2 fullbacks and 1 CB who can cover at FB in our entire squad! We got away with it in the second half of last season, but we can't get away with it next season if we want to challenge on all fronts.

He doesn't want to stay as backup.

"To go back next year to Chelsea and sit on the bench is not what I want," Bertrand said.

"If I was to leave I want to stay within the best teams in the Premier League. To keep my own ambitions to progress and play for England I need to be right up there, playing consistently at a decent level."

[CHOULO19 24,332]

He doesn't want to stay as backup.

He's a great professional. I'm sure he can be persuaded by Jose if he wants him to stay, but for some reason, Jose just doesn't seem to fancy him despite our lack of options.

[didierforever 7,349]

He's a great professional. I'm sure he can be persuaded by Jose if he wants him to stay, but for some reason, Jose just doesn't seem to fancy him despite our lack of options.

he is a professional footballer who seems to love the game!!! why should he spend the best years of his life sitting with the reserves (not even the bench) knowing he will be the 3rd choice LB and the 4th choice full back in the squad!!!

[Madmax 9,219]

For his sake, I hope he moves. He's right when he says he needs to be playing consistently at a decent level, he's nearly 25 or something. He has practically zero chance of getting into Mourinho's backline because Mourinho does not rotate it, and he's a better player than to be playing just our Carling Cup games. If Mourinho indeed doesn't fancy him, we have to go with what the manager says, simple really.

I don't even mind him playing at Liverpool or Sp*rs, he'll always have a soft spot in my heart for being a Chelsea boy and for starting in Munich. Good luck, Berty.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

he is a professional footballer who seems to love the game!!! why should he spend the best years of his life sitting with the reserves (not even the bench) knowing he will be the 3rd choice LB and the 4th choice full back in the squad!!!

Because the team might need him.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Serious question: Why let him leave?

I mean, even if we do sign Luis, we'll only have 2 fullbacks and 1 CB who can cover at FB in our entire squad! We got away with it in the second half of last season, but we can't get away with it next season if we want to challenge on all fronts.

Because he's not that good. He's never been that good and it's surprising he's had a career at a top club this long.

Next season we have Luis, Azpi, Ivanovic and possibly Zouma and Ake who can cover the full-back positions. Anything more than £6 million for Bertrand is great business.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Because he's not that good. He's never been that good and it's surprising he's had a career at a top club this long.

Next season we have Luis, Azpi, Ivanovic and possibly Zouma and Ake who can cover the full-back positions. Anything more than £6 million for Bertrand is great business.

You think Ake and Zouma are already better than Ryan?

He's not great, but he's not bad. He's solid and consistent; exactly what you'd want from a squad player. Give me a fullback like Bertrand over someone like Walker any day of the week.

[The only place to be 11,313]

You think Ake and Zouma are already better than Ryan?

He's not great, but he's not bad. He's solid and consistent; exactly what you'd want from a squad player. Give me a fullback like Bertrand over someone like Walker any day of the week.

I don't think it's worth keeping him around when there's money on the table, no. Bertrand is a funny old player because he's been completely unspectacular since he was a kid at Gillingham. I was talking to a bloke in the pub a few weeks ago who actually knew him then and it was exactly the same case.

Absolutely nothing we do next season hinges on whether Bertrand is still part of the squad or not. Ake and Zouma will need minutes if they stay here as well and I probably think Ake is a more rounded player already.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I don't think it's worth keeping him around when there's money on the table, no. Bertrand is a funny old player because he's been completely unspectacular since he was a kid at Gillingham. I was talking to a bloke in the pub a few weeks ago who actually knew him then and it was exactly the same case.

Absolutely nothing we do next season hinges on whether Bertrand is still part of the squad or not. Ake and Zouma will need minutes if they stay here as well and I probably think Ake is a more rounded player already.

Yeah, you're probably right that now is our best chance to get actual money (6-8m) for him. But my worry is what if 2 of Azpi, Luis/new LB and Iva are injured even for a couple of matches? We'll probably see something like Schurrle at LB. Haven't seen Zouma play in the fullback position, so I can't judge.

On any account, I think Ake is likely to go out on loan. He said so last season. Vitesse most likely.

[didierforever 7,349]

Because the team might need him.

when we had cole (who was horrendous at the start of the last season), but we "might" need him when we buy one of the best LBs in the world right now (luis). pva/ake can cover for that!!!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

when we had cole (who was horrendous at the start of the last season), but we "might" need him when we buy one of the best LBs in the world right now (luis). pva/ake can cover for that!!!

As I said above, Ake is most likely going out on loan. PVA? I'd much rather sell PVA and keep Bertrand.

[didierforever 7,349]

As I said above, Ake is most likely going out on loan. PVA? I'd much rather sell PVA and keep Bertrand.

so would I!!! Bertrand had a magical night in munich and every chelsea fan will always have a soft spot for him. I wanted him to succeed at chelsea and when cole started match after match at the start of the last season, it was frustrating for him and the fans.

But the fact that teams like pool and spurs are after him tells us that he is a very decent player and he is "good enough", a player who deserves more than 5 games a season or to be the 4th choice full back. Its not fair to the player. His apparent role in the squad can easily be covered by whoever will be our 7th and 8th defender.

[didierforever 7,349]

As I said above, Ake is most likely going out on loan. PVA? I'd much rather sell PVA and keep Bertrand.

so would I!!! Bertrand had a magical night in munich and every chelsea fan will always have a soft spot for him. I wanted him to succeed at chelsea and when cole started match after match at the start of the last season, it was frustrating for him and the fans.

But the fact that teams like pool and spurs are after him tells us that he is a very decent player and he is "good enough", a player who deserves more than 5 games a season or to be the 4th choice full back. Its not fair to the player. His apparent role in the squad can easily be covered by whoever will be our 7th and 8th defender.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Yeah, you're probably right that now is our best chance to get actual money (6-8m) for him. But my worry is what if 2 of Azpi, Luis/new LB and Iva are injured even for a couple of matches? We'll probably see something like Schurrle at LB. Haven't seen Zouma play in the fullback position, so I can't judge.

On any account, I think Ake is likely to go out on loan. He said so last season. Vitesse most likely.

I think Ake may well go out on loan too, purely because he needs more game time at left-back which means we probably sell Van Aanholt to someone who isn't Vitesse.

Bertrand would be third-choice left-back here (Luis, Azpi) and I don't think you need specialised left-backs for that role. Plus Luis and Azpi seem to be adept at avoiding niggling injuries so you're planning for an unlikely event.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I think Ake may well go out on loan too, purely because he needs more game time at left-back which means we probably sell Van Aanholt to someone who isn't Vitesse.

Bertrand would be third-choice left-back here (Luis, Azpi) and I don't think you need specialised left-backs for that role. Plus Luis and Azpi seem to be adept at avoiding niggling injuries so you're planning for an unlikely event.

I think it could work if we keep Kalas (or Zouma if he's good at fullback). If not, I'd feel much more secure if we instead loan out Ryan with an option to recall him in case of an emergency.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I think it could work if we keep Kalas (or Zouma if he's good at fullback). If not, I'd feel much more secure if we instead loan out Ryan with an option to recall him in case of an emergency.

He shouldn't accept that though and I doubt many teams would. Third-choice full-back is rarely a specialist in that position. It's Geremi or Essien most of the time and that's the way it should remain in my opinion.

Cash in on him now, let him continue his spectacularly average career elsewhere and everyone's happy. The truth is he's simply not that good a player.

I agree with you about Van Aanholt though.

[didierforever 7,349]

24 year old - FA cup, CL and EL. playing for chelsea. interests from pool and spurs. spectacularly average indeed.