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Following reports last night that Liverpool's deal for Alberto Moreno wasn't as close to being completed as Spanish sources were suggesting, there are rumours Liverpool could return for a supposed January fullback target as their back-up option. If the Moreno deal does fall apart, the suggestion is that 24-year-old Chelsea fullback Ryan Bertrand will be second choice.
This follows on from January rumours linking Liverpool with a move for the out of favour fullback whose career, after early promise, has stalled out. Like so many of Chelsea's promising youngsters, Bertrand has spent more time on loan than at his parent club since arriving in 2006 from Gillingham as a highly rated prospect.
Bournemouth, Oldham, Norwich, Reading, Nottingham, and, last season, Aston Villa have all been stops along his journey. In January, there were suggestions Brendan Rodgers would attempt to do for his career what he did the year before for Daniel Sturridge's, but the interest never amounted to anything more than paper talk.
Now those same papers say Liverpool could be going back, and for a fee somewhere south of £10M. And for most Liverpool fans, a flyer on forgotten Ryan Bertrand won't be seen as an especially exciting move, regardless of Sturridge's situation. Sturridge, while on loan at least, had looked far brighter than Bertrand. He was also younger. And Liverpool also weren't in the Champions League at the time and could better afford the gamble.
Now, Bertrand would for many be a massively underwhelming signing. Though for now, with the rumour limited to the less scrupulous back pages and corners of the internet, it might be best for Liverpool fans to consider it far more likely to be a case of rumour mongers rehashing an old story than of Liverpool having real interest in the player.
