West Ham turned down golden chance to sign quality left-back Ryan Bertrand before he joined Leicester – report

West Ham United need cover at left-back and were offered a quality player on a plate.

Earlier this summer Hammers News suggested a move for Bertrand who had announced he had decided to leave Southampton and would be a free agent.

The ex Chelsea man is a proven Premier League performer with pace and an excellent injury record. In fact Bertrand has played over 30 games in all but one season during his career since becoming a first team regular.

West Ham saw both Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku struggle with injuries for spells last season.

West Ham need a left-back and Moyes clearly agrees after Firpo chase

And Hammers fans feel Moyes needs to sign a new left-back to compete with Cresswell as major doubts remain over Masuaku’s defensive capabilities.

Indeed Moyes clearly feels the same as the Scot has been trying to sign Barcelona outcast Junior Firpo but look set to miss out to Leeds.

It has now emerged, though, that West Ham were offered the chance to sign Bertrand on a free transfer but rejected the opportunity.

And he has since been unveiled as a Leicester player with Brendan Rodgers clearly feeling he is good enough for West Ham’s Prem and Europa League rivals.

Hammers boss rejected chance to sign free agent Bertrand who is now set for rivals Leicester instead

Having beaten West Ham to Wesley Fofana and Patson Daka, Hammers fans are getting sick of the sight of well run Leicester.

But this time West Ham very much had a choice in the matter and have decided against taking Bertrand despite having a jam-packed season with European football on the horizon.

That’s according to The Evening Standard’s West Ham man Jack Rosser and Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

“As per Fabrizio Romano – Ryan Bertrand has agreed to join Leicester,” Rosser said on Twitter.

“Left Saints on a free at the end of the season, had been of interest to AC Milan and Arsenal – West Ham turned down the chance to sign him.

“Signing contract with Leicester soon.”

Ex Chelsea man does not fit Moyes’s recruitment policy but sometimes you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth

In fairness to Moyes Bertrand does not fit his stated transfer policy.

He turns 32 before the start of next season and cannot be classified as a young player hungry to prove himself at the top level – he’s been there and done that.

But sometimes you cannot look a gift horse in the mouth.

And the fact Rodgers and Leicester have snapped him up perhaps proves this was a poor decision from the Hammers.

Especially when money is supposedly tight and Moyes has other priority areas where his transfer funds need to be directed first.

In other West Ham news, fans should get a look at one of their new kits today (Friday).

And the players return for pre-season training although there is some uncertainty over who will be overseeing it all initially.

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