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Ryan Bertrand keen to extend Southampton stay permanently

Ryan Bertrand has already seen enough at Southampton to make him keen to join the club permanently from Chelsea.

Bertrand, 25, was one of a clutch of players parachuted in during a summer of upheaval at St Mary's, penning a season-long deal with a view to a permanent transfer.

The England left-back has slotted in seamlessly and helped Ronald Koeman's side to confound those predicting a season of strife, with Saints remarkably entering November second in the Premier League.

It is such form which makes Bertrand open to making this seventh loan away from Chelsea permanent -- an option Koeman last week revealed he is keen to take.

"It is one of them things where I've got to wait and see, but, for me, there's no reason why not, to be honest,'' Bertrand said. "There is a good base to the club, we're pulling in the right direction. We have fantastic fans, fantastic players, a fantastic manager and the coaching staff.

"It has been a good experience for me so far so I don't see why not. For me, it is a first in many aspects, especially with the consistency of football I'm getting.

"I am pleased with the way it has started but you know there is a lot more work to be done. As a team we're only going to get better, individually I am only going to improve.''