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It’s been a summer of waiting for Leicester City fans, without even speculation to keep us going. All of our transfer dealings seemed to be wrapped up, but no announcements to get excited about.
Well the waiting is over now, with an exciting young striker and a French league winner with room to grow both added in just a few days.
Between those, the news snuck out that another poorly kept secret was being sewn up, even if it is somewhat of a less exciting one.
Ryan Bertrand to Leicester, done deal and here we go! Total agreement reached, signing a contract until June 2023 [one year option included until 2024]. #LCFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 1, 2021
After many approaches/bids, Bertrand will be officially announced as new Leicester player in the next days.
The former Chelsea LB joins from Southampton, where his consistency has seen him play more than 2000 minutes in each of the last 7 seasons.
That consistency might be the end of his list of positives at this point in his career and this past year he looked no more than a below average Premier League LB, with little positional versatility.
With Christian Fuchs leaving, we do have a space for a 30+ LB who can offer a little stability, but 2 years and an option for a third sounds like a long time.
Ryan Bertrand will join Leicester on a two-year-contract. Most likely to be back-up but a good move for him.
— Jacob Tanswell (@J_Tanswell) July 1, 2021
Likely to provide an option as a CB in a back three, too. A player whose impact at Southampton should become greater as the years go on.
Good luck to him.#SaintsFC
If there’s a positive to take from this deal, it’s that it will have no impact at all on Luke Thomas or James Justin.
Thomas now has a safety net until JJ can return and can get some rest during league cup matches - a luxury Justin was never afforded before his injury last season.
Oh, and he’s also free. Following Fuchs, Cambiasso and Marc Albrighton, we’ve done pretty well out of those deals.