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Chelsea reject Liverpool inquiry for Ryan Bertrand

By on July 20, 2013

Chelsea have rejected an approach for Ryan Bertrand from Liverpool, with the 23-year-old maintaining his hopes of succeeding Ashley Cole as the English club’s starting left-back. Although Cole has signed a new one-year contract at Chelsea, meaning Bertrand will remain the Englishman’s understudy for another season, the starlet remains happy to stay in London.

The Blue’s new manager Jose Mourinho has spoken to Bertrand about his situation, and claimed the the full-back seemed very positive about his future. Bertrand, who started in 2012 Champions League final, is currently contracted until 2016 by the London-based club, with a new contract in the offing if the Londoner becomes any more of an important part of the squad. He made 38 appearances last season, and with the aging Cole being his only real competition for a starting spot Bertrand will likely feature in over 40 matches next season. The lack of other left-back options also will help the English international earn himself a guaranteed starting spot, and Bertrand seems adamant he can break his way into the line-up.

“I want to be Chelsea’s No1 left-back, and when that time comes it will happen,” Bertrand said. “All I can do is be ready and keep playing, keep biding my time. I’m thinking of nothing else. I am just focusing on being No1, concentrating on progression in the games I get, and I’ve managed to do so in recent years.

“I’ve had a few loan moves – Bournemouth, Oldham, Norwich, Reading and [Nottingham] Forest – but that’s part and parcel of it when you are a young player coming through. You have to be willing to put the work in and not being afraid, to get out of the comfort zone and take your opportunities. It’s better than reserve team football, but then there comes a time when you have to say: ‘Right, I am going to spend some time back at the club and see what happens.’ I’m looking forward to next season.”

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.