Liverpool Rekindle Interest in Signing Chelsea Defender Ryan Bertrand

Liverpool are set to re-kindle their interest in signing Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand, according to the Express.

The Blues left-back has been a long-term summer target for Brendan Rodgers as he is preparing to overhaul the Reds' squad for the new campaign, which will see them return to Champions League after a few years of absence.

The English left-back spent the second half of the last season on loan at Aston Villa. Earlier in March, Bertrand admitted that he needs to be the first choice left-back for Chelsea, if he has to continue at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea signed Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid as a replacement for Ashley Cole. The arrival of the 28-year-old will see Bertrand drop further down the pecking order, leaving him with limited playing time with the first team.

The Merseyside club were interested in several left-backs in recent times as they were having discussions with Sevilla's Alberto Moreno and with Swansea City for Ben Davies. The latter completed his switch to Tottenham Hotspur, while Liverpool are unwilling to meet the La Liga club's £20m valuation.

The situation has forced Rodgers to resurrect the Anfield club's interest in landing the Blues defender. Chelsea value Bertrand around £8m and Liverpool are unwilling to meet the asking price set by their Premier League rival.

Liverpool finished above Chelsea last season and the west London club's manager Jose Mourinho is unwilling to let Bertrand join the Reds as the Portuguese tactician considers Liverpool as a real threat for his side.

Rodgers should move quickly in solving Liverpool's back four for the next season in order to avoid a repeat of last season, where their poor defence resulted in them giving away a league title to Manchester City.

Meanwhile, the Reds are also interested in sealing a deal for Southampton centre-back Dejan Lovren. The Croatian international has publicly expressed his desire to join Rodgers at Anfield after claiming that his head is already at Liverpool.