Rumour: Spurs & Liverpool linked with a move for Chelsea's Ryan Bertrand

Ryan Bertrand went on loan to Aston Villa last season in search of regular football

Ryan Bertrand is set to become the centre of a bidding war between Tottenham and Liverpool, as Chelsea have decided they are willing to sell him.

The left-back spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa as he helped them beat the drop and now he could be set for a move away from Stamford Bridge. Bertrand also comes equipped with big-game experience having featured in Chelsea’s successful Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 2012.

The Evening Standard report that both Liverpool, who have previously been linked with Bertrand, and Tottenham are taking a look at the Englishman with left-back a problem area for both.

The Reds explored the possibility of signing Betrand in January but decided against it, though he is a player that Brendan Rodgers has worked with before when the Northern Irishman was at Chelsea.

Jon Flanagan emerged as a promising candidate for the left-back position while Jose Enrique was sidelined through injury but the young full-back is a right-back primarily and is seen as the replacement for Glen Johnson so having a natural left-back would be a great advantage for Rodgers.

Meanwhile closer to Stamford Bridge, Tottenham’s need for a left-back is arguably even greater. Natural centre-back Jan Vertonghen and converted winger Danny Rose have both played at left-back this season but neither has done it with particularly great conviction.

Rose in particular has been a liability at times this season and it an urgent problem for new Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino to address. The Argentine had reportedly earmarked Bertrand as a potential replacement for Luke Shaw when he was at Southampton so he will already be well accustomed with what the Chelsea man can do.