Leicester City are reportedly closing in on the signing of Southampton defender Ryan Bertrand on a free transfer.

What's the story?

The 31-year-old is set to become a free agent when his contract expires on the south coast at the end of the month, and it appears as though the Foxes have won the race for his signature.

That's according to well-respected journalist Nizaar Kinsella, who tweeted: "Expect Leicester City will win the race for Ryan Bertrand now. They are in pole position with Arsenal having been interested."

Fans should be buzzing

With the highly-rated youngster James Justin set for an extended spell on the sidelines following a serious knee injury and the departure of Christian Fuchs, a new full-back is high up on Brendan Rodgers' wish list this summer.

The likes of Nuno Mendes and Robin Gosens have been linked with big-money moves to the King Power Stadium, but the Northern Irish tactician has seemingly opted for Bertrand instead.

Although the proposed arrival of the former Chelsea academy graduate doesn't carry the same excitement as the aforementioned stars, he is certainly the more pragmatic option, and his signature should still have the fans buzzing.

The effects of the ongoing pandemic mean that funds are tight across all clubs at this moment in time and, therefore, the importance of spending money wisely has never been greater.

Justin is the long-term solution to Leicester's left-back woes and teenager Luke Thomas is also highly thought of by the hierarchy of the Midlands outfit.

Therefore, bringing in Bertrand on a free in order to provide cover and competition on the left-hand is an extremely sensible move, providing a short-term solution to their full-back issues.

It will allow Rodgers to spend the club's relatively modest transfer budget on more important positions, such as up-front and central midfield, hopefully allowing them to compete against the upper echelons of the Premier League table once more.

The current FA Cup holders are not be able to rival the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, or Chelsea in the transfer market, meaning astute purchases such as Bertrand are vital to their success.

Foxes fans should be buzzing that their club are about to get an experienced player to fill a position of need without having to spend a penny on a transfer fee.

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