Southampton have cultivated an exciting but albeit inexperienced side over the summer, with the worst elements of it creeping through in their naïve loss at home to Everton on Saturday.
Whilst they have relative strength in most positions, left-back stands out as somewhere that is in desperate need of a dependable option to be added.
Previously Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters have had to deputise on the wrong flank to fill it, and whilst Juan Larios was signed over the summer and comes with a big reputation, at just 18 years old his inexperience could prove costly.
It will, therefore, leave Ralph Hasenhuttl dreaming of defenders of the past from St Mary’s, with Ryan Bertrand the standout name for someone who would be simply perfect for their current side.
Signed permanently in 2015 by Ronald Koeman for just £10m, after being a part of Chelsea’s Champions League winning side in 2012, the 33-year-old went on to feature 240 times for the Saints.
Across his spell at St Mary’s he scored eight goals and assisted 20 times, but it was his reliability and defensive stability that made him such a success.
He even captained the club, and if he were to return now in his prime he would bring a wealth of experience and leadership that they are sorely lacking at the moment.
Especially with the departure of Romeu, James Ward-Prowse remains the only standout character who could possibly captain the club.
Commentator Arlo White was full of praise for the Southampton side that Bertrand came into on loan in 2014, as he took to Twitter to claim: “Saints fans must be crushed today, but very optimistic. Tadic a joy to watch. Fonte a rock. Clyne & Bertrand outstanding. Spirit in tact.”
Those four players featured for the Saints during a far more productive time on the south coast and as much as the likes of Tadic would offer in the present day, Bertrand has also been a big miss.
He would continue to be outstanding defensively for the Saints, managing 1.0 interceptions, 2.1 tackles and 1.3 clearances per game in his final season, whilst he was noticeably declining.
Bertrand will remain a modern-day hero for Southampton, and fans would surely delight in the prospect of having the Leicester man in his prime return to fill their left-back slot.