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Southampton should learn from the Oriol Romeu and Ryan Bertrand transfers

By Chris Hughes

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: Oriol Romeu of Chelsea during the pre-season friendly between MK Dons and a Chelsea XI at Stadium mk on August 3, 2015 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: Oriol Romeu of Chelsea during the pre-season friendly between MK Dons and a Chelsea XI at Stadium mk on August 3, 2015 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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When the Saints enter the transfer market this summer for fresh talent, they should do well to remember the Ryan Bertrand and Oriol Romeu transfers.

Southampton could be in for another busy summer over the coming months, as a host of players could all leave for a variety of reasons.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk could make the step up, whilst recently Jay Rodriguez has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace.

But when the Saints look to recruit new players, they should keep in mind the success of signing the former Chelsea duo.

Since joining the south coast outfit in 2014 on loan, Bertrand has made 100 appearances for the side in all competitions, scoring on five occasions and becoming a vital part of the team’s starting XI.

Whilst the England international was send on loan more times than many would care to count, he still had the potential from a young age to join Chelsea’s academy from Gillingham, only showing how high the club’s scouts must’ve rated the left-back.

The 27-year-old even started in the Champions League final for the London club in 2012, and for some time was seen as their replacement for the then-aging Ashley Cole.

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Ryan Bertrand of Southampton walks out of the tunnel to warm up prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Southampton at Bet365 Stadium on December 14, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Ryan Bertrand of Southampton walks out of the tunnel to warm up prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Southampton at Bet365 Stadium on December 14, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Oriol Romeu meanwhile joined the Saints a year after Bertrand, in a reported deal worth little more than £5 million. A product of the famous La Masia academy in Barcelona, the defensive midfielder joined Chelsea in 2011, making 22 appearances over the next two years.

However he was then loaned back to Spain and then to Germany to Valencia and Stuttgart respectively in the following seasons, before joining the Saints on a cut-price deal.

Whilst he may of not made the grade at both Barca and Chelsea, both clubs clearly saw enough potential in the 25-year-old to bring him in.

With that in mind, Les Reed and those above Claude Puel must continue to look for bargain deals at Europe’s elite. Just because they haven’t lived up to expectations doesn’t make them bad footballers.

Some examples would be players like Fabian Delph or even Chelsea’s Kenedy, who are both struggling for get game time at bigger clubs. The duo might never even be scouted by the Saints, but the transfer model remains the same.

Signing from abroad will again be something Southampton will look to do this summer, but looking to England’s elite for the current crop of struggling players is something the Saints should once again consider doing this summer.