ATLETICO Madrid are weighing up a move for Saints defender Ryan Bertrand, according to the Daily Mail.

The same report suggests that Italian side Inter Milan are also considering a bid for the 29-year-old who has two years left on his contract.

It's not the first time that Bertrand has attracted the attention of Europe's elite.

Premier League champions Manchester City tried to lure the left back away from St Mary's in 2017 and 2018, only for Saints to reject their advances.

It's suggested that the south coast club are looking to bag around £15m from any Bertrand sale.

However, according to the report, the European sides want to spend less than £10m to sign the former Champions League winner.

Bertrand joined Saints back in 2015 and has played over 100 times for the club.

The Daily Echo last week reported that manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was open to selling either Bertrand or his understudy Matt Targett.

Hasenhuttl is a big fan of youngster Jake Vokins which has made him relaxed about losing one of his more experienced players in that role.

Bertrand had to remain patient for a chance to impress the Saints boss after sustaining a back injury in November last year.

He didn't return to the squad until February but then managed to dislodge Targett and hold down the starting spot until the end of the season.

Targett has already been subject to enquiries from newly promoted Aston Villa as well as relegated Fulham.

But at only 23-years-old, the Saints lad appears to suit Hasenhuttl's philosophy more than Bertrand.

The Saints chief places an emphasis on picking youngsters who want to prove themselves in the Premier League.

It's believed that the club don't want to stand in the way of Targett's development but, at the same time, they don't want to see him move to another club.

Because of this, it looks more likely that if Saints can find a buyer for Bertrand, they will let him leave.