news-engine

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has been pleased with Ben Brereton-Diaz in pre-season as he rules out nothing for the Stoke-supporting forward in the final month of the transfer window. Brereton-Diaz, aged 27, has been back working on the south coast after two loan spells away; with Sheffield United in 2024/25 before spending the whole of last term at Derby County. He hasn't played for Southampton since December 2024 and has only made four league starts for the club since joining the previous summer. He scored eight and set up another three during his time at Derby, who had seemed keen to take him back this time around. Sheff Utd are also keen. But he has been featuring under Eckert this summer and could be involved in the Carabao Cup against Colchester next weekend. Eckert told the Daily Echo: "I think it is up to us to welcome everyone back into the club and I think that he's shown what he can do in the pre-season games. So far, I'm very happy with the way that he's integrated back into the group. FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest Stoke City news, analysis and more via the Sentinel "He seems to be very well connected to all parts of the dressing room which is always a nice thing that you can jump from one group to another. "So I'm very happy with him and having him around and then we'll see where the window takes us." Brereton-Diaz grew up in Meir Park and was on the books of Manchester United as a boy before spending time in Stoke's academy then moving on to Nottingham Forest. He made his senior breakthrough at Blackburn Rovers, where he worked his way into the Chile squad. Derby manager John Eustace told DerbyshireLive: "I'd like to bring in top players at this level who can help us improve. "Ben did terrific in the second half of the season last year. We need to bring in as many good players as we can to help us try to get in that top eight. "It is a difficult time with things happening off the pitch with potential takeovers and what not, I get that. But we are two weeks away from the big kick-off and I want to bring in as many quality players as I can to help the group and the club move forward." What do you think? Click HERE to join the debate