Manchester City to swoop for Ryan Bertrand with Benjamin Mendy out until April due to knee ligament injury

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Manchester City have relaunched their interest in Ryan Bertrand as Pep Guardiola targets a replacement for their injured summer signing Benjamin Mendy.

Just days before the announcement of Kyle Walker's signing - for £54million - Sportsmail revealed that Guardiola was also targeting a move for Southampton full back Bertrand.

But instead, the City boss opted for Walker and former Monaco defender Benjamin Mendy, who cost Guardiola a further £52m before he suffered a knee ligament injury in only his fourth Premier League appearance.

Ryan Bertrand is back on Manchester City's radar as Pep Guardiola looks for another left back

Bertrand chats with Virgil van Dijk who is also linked with a move away from Southampton

Mendy's injury has packed a bigger punch than Guardiola first perceived and the Frenchman is set to be sidelined until April at least, leaving City without a natural left back to fill the void, with Fabian Delph the only contender for the spot of late.

Napoli's Faouzi Ghoulam was Guardiola's original choice, but with the Algerian also sidelined indefinitely, the Sun has reported a source revealed Bertrand may yet again be at the top of Guardiola's wish list come the January transfer window.

'Ryan Bertrand is back on the radar of City with Napoli refusing to budge on Ghoulam at present,' the source said.

City are without a left back while Benjamin Mendy (centre) recovers from a knee injury

The serious nature of the Frenchman's injury has seen him ruled out of action until April at least

'Bertrand is a player City have ran the rule over before, but his transfer fee could be an issue, it all depends on what they ask for again.

'His homegrown status is also attractive. The issue they have is Benjamin Mendy is expected to be out for the season.'

City were originally set to offer £25m for the left back, but with their desperation to find a replacement clear, the Saints may well try to empty the Premier League leaders' pockets a little more.

'We will see if we can add players in January,' Guardiola said in October. 'The problem we have is the Mendy injury.' 

Pep Guardiola has hinted at aiming to sign a new left back in January after Mendy's injury