Former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer has told This Is Futbol in an exclusive interview that Ralph Hasenhuttl would have wanted to keep hold of Ryan Bertrand, but can understand why the defender has chosen to leave.
Bertrand is out of contract at the end of the season and has confirmed he will not be extending it.
Speaking recently to HampshireLive, Hasenhuttl confirmed that the club’s last offer to the 31-year-old left-back was not accepted and they are now looking at other targets.
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For Palmer, the development comes as a blow, with the ex-Southampton man convinced Bertrand is a player Hasenhuttl would have liked to retain given his contribution this season.
Speaking exclusively to TIF about the England international’s imminent exit, Palmer said:
“He’s played a lot of the season; he’s played very well for them. Of course, the manager would have liked to have kept him.
“But, you know, Southampton have fallen off the second part of the season. If he’s got an opportunity to go to a club where he can do better than what Southampton are doing, maybe he’s looking at that.”
In terms of potential replacements, the Saints could reportedly revisit former targets Brandon Williams and Japhet Tanganga, the latter possibly having the opportunity to link-up with former Tottenham team-mate Kyle Walker-Peters again.