Chelsea have rejected an approach from Liverpool for Ryan Bertrand, their 23-year-old left-back. Bertrand is understudy at Chelsea to Ashley Cole but has reiterated his desire to stay and eventually succeed Cole as first choice for club and country.

Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, has made it clear that he wants more world-class talent to emerge from the academy and there is a particular hope that Bertrand can follow John Terry in becoming a first-team regular.

Bertrand, though, clearly needs playing time at this stage of his career and there is also the risk that his progress will become stalled by a lack of first-team opportunities.

"I want to be Chelsea's number one left-back, and when that time comes it will happen," he said. "All I can do is be ready and keep playing, keep biding my time. It won't be: 'As soon as Ashley Cole goes, there we are, it's mine.' The work will still be there to do."

Source: Telegraph