No bids as Ryan Bertrand exit talk follows Virgil van Dijk saga

RYAN Bertrand is the latest of Saints' prized assets after Virgil van Dijk to be front and centre of transfer speculation.

But, as with Van Dijk, it is understood that so far no bid is yet on the table for the 27-year-old's services, which are widely reported to be attracting the interest of Manchester City.

Bertrand is another of the club's top stars who Saints are keen to keep hold of this summer.

But Pep Guardiola's men are said to be keen on the England left-back, if they can't secure the services of their first choice, Benjamin Mendy, the Monaco defender.

However, Saints will be eager to resist and will have been buoyed after a big victory in the their battle to keep Van Dijk.

As has been well-documented, Saints reported Liverpool to the Premier League over what they saw as an illegal approach for the talismanic defender.

Then, in a surprise turn, the Anfield outfit issued a full apology and stated that they'd dropped any interest in the Dutchman.

It has certainly made a huge statement over the Saints' stance on transfers this summer, after years of losing their key men to the league's big spenders.

Much like Van Dijk, who signed a six year contract last summer, Bertrand is another Saints man to be tied to the club long-term, having put pen to paper on a deal until 2021 last July.

And as such Saints will feel they are in a strong bargaining position over their stars' futures.

Although nobody has left just yet, former Saints man Jimmy Case fears that perhaps money might once again play a role in more departures this summer, with the leading sides able to offer colossal wages.

"These days unfortunately it comes down to money," he said.

"It’s money and you can’t blame a player and if he’s on, for argument’s sake £50,000 a week and then he goes elsewhere and he’s on £80,000 or £100,000 a week, you really can't blame that player for going.

"At the end of it, it’s a short-lived career and you’ve got to look after your family and your livelihood.

"But there’s very little loyalty these days and we know that, but that’s one of the main things.

"Southampton seem to get to a certain level. They produce good players, they get them in and they work well and they become better players.

"There’s something there but it’s another thing keeping hold of them."