Championship clubs queuing up to take £7m Southampton man Ben Brereton Diaz

Southampton are looking to cash in on Ben Brereton Díaz after multiple Championship clubs have shown interest in him following his impressive Derby County spell.

Not more than a week ago, Southampton found themselves in a vulnerable position after their expulsion from the playoff final. With an uncertain future ahead and a mass exodus expected, they were expected to rely heavily on returning loanees for a rebuild.

While the Saints are still in the early stages of recovery, they have begun to win back some trust. With players now willing to give the club another chance, Southampton are using that goodwill to decide the futures of their loan returnees.

In one such development, the Saints may have already made a decision on one loanee star. The player in question is Ben Brereton Díaz, with multiple clubs lining up to sign him after his impressive loan spell at Derby.

Saints Extra quoted Radio ADN: “Ben Brereton Diaz is not expected to be part of Southampton’s plans this summer — the 27-year-old has interest from Derby, Sheffield United, West Brom & Middlesbrough.”

Multiple Championship sides interested in Ben Brereton Diaz

Brereton Díaz has arguably been Southampton’s only successful loan move in the 2025/26 Championship campaign, where their loanees were spread across the division. That’s because the Chilean striker once again upped his game away from St. Mary’s and emerged among the top scorers for Derby.

But it would be an understatement to say the Derby loan was an easy ride for Brereton Díaz. After finding his inaugural Derby goal in his third game for the Rams, he went goalless for several months in a row.

However, it all changed for the forward when he discovered his newfound right‑wing position in John Eustace’s Derby system. The stability in his role saw him score six times and contribute three more assists in the second half of the season.

Although Derby eventually missed out on a playoff spot, the Saints loanee’s performances have not gone unnoticed. In fact, the Chilean has attracted interest from his previous club Sheffield United, as well as Derby, along with new suitors in Middlesbrough and West Brom.

What is worth noting is that Southampton did not include a buy option for Brereton Díaz in his loan to Derby. While such a clause would have surely seen the Rams activate it after being impressed by the attacker, this step may prove to be a masterstroke by Southampton, as they can now use the surging interest in Díaz to negotiate for a higher price.

Southampton’s negotiation could see them reduce losses on Diaz

Although Brereton Díaz hit the ground running for Derby in the 2025/26 campaign, the attacker has been widely considered a flop signing for Southampton. That’s a primary reason they would look to cash in on him this summer, with an intent to cut their losses on their initial £7m investment.

What increases Southampton’s chances of securing a profitable deal is their negotiation tactic, which has served them well before. Take the case of another under‑performing Saints signing, Kamaldeen Sulemana.

Despite being mediocre relative to the £21m Southampton spent on him, the club were able to secure a resale value of €17.5m for Sulemana last summer. This is the inspiration Southampton will draw from as they look to leverage the interest in Brereton Díaz to extract a lucrative deal.

Notably, Derby have been widely impressed by Díaz’s contribution during his loan spell. With Rams fans pushing for the club to sign him permanently, Southampton can benefit from Derby’s desire to strike a favourable deal.

Another suitor that might genuinely interest Southampton is Middlesbrough. Keeping the Spygate drama aside, it’s no secret that Boro’s lack of clinical finishing cost them multiple chances to secure Premier League promotion.

Southampton could use that weakness to their advantage, presenting Brereton Díaz as a stop‑gap solution to Boro’s attacking problems.

Overall, Southampton find themselves in a strong position given the surging interest in the Chilean forward. Should they finalise a sale, it will be with the clear intention of turning a profit on their books.