Southampton’s Ross Stewart bombshell could open the door for £7m flop | OneFootball

Ross Stewart's release from Southampton this summer could open the door for Ben Brereton Diaz to return to the fold

Southampton will be playing Championship football next season, as Tonda Eckert's side are set for some awkward reunions next year following their antics off the pitch, with the German set to make some key decisions regarding personnel on the South Coast.

Indeed, following a 19-game unbeaten run in the league towards the end of the campaign, with victories in the FA Cup over both Fulham and Arsenal to boot, Southampton headed into the play-offs on a high.

German head coach Tonda Eckert had successfully guided the Saints into the top six after a disappointing beginning to the campaign, and a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough in the semi-finals followed, booking their place at Wembley.

However, Southampton were found guilty of spying on various opponents across the year, including Boro, resulting in their expulsion from the competition, and resigning them to another year in the second tier as a result.

As Eckert prepares to face some awkward situations after their off-field antics, after it was announced he would not be dismissed, the 33-year-old will be preparing to come back stronger than ever and with a point to prove, and following the surprise exit of one star, could decide to bring back a forgotten loan player back into the fold.

Southampton could bring back Ben Brereton Diaz back into the fold following Ross Stewart's exit this summer

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It's not been a blockbuster start to the summer transfer window for Southampton, as though they have confirmed deals for each of Cyle Larin, Daniel Peretz, and George Long, each of whom were on loan at St Mary's previously, there has been little in the way of transfer news on the South Coast.

Arguably the biggest news to come out of the club in recent weeks is that Ross Stewart has left the club following the end of his contract, with the Scottish international leaving the club after three years.

Stewart, 29, joined Southampton from Sunderland in the summer of 2023 for around £12 million, but his game time at St Mary's was drastically hindered by injury struggles, making just 50 appearances across all competitions during his time with the club.

Despite this, Stewart displayed a high level whenever he was fit enough to get on the pitch for the Saints, and his unexpected departure is without a doubt a huge blow for the club.

Whilst the arrival of Larin will fill that void to some extent, Eckert will surely need another similar option up top, with Cameron Archer not exactly his preferred type of centre-forward, as the German must consider bringing Chilean international Ben Brereton Diaz back into the fold.

Brereton-Diaz, 27, joined Southampton for £7 million from Villarreal in the summer of 2024, but has made just 15 appearances in all competitions for the Saints since then, instead spending time out on loan with Sheffield United and, most recently, Derby County.

With Derby, Brereton Diaz was a regular in the side under John Eustace, scoring seven and assisting three in 40 league appearances for the Rams, sharing his playing time behind the centre-forward as one of two advanced number tens, or on occasion as the outright striker.

The Chilean international previously notched 43 goal contributions across his final two years as Blackburn Rovers' main man, displaying his capability of thriving in the second tier, and the reason Villarreall brought him to Spain in the first place.

Now entering what should be his prime years, Brereton Diaz could be a force to be reckoned with in the Championship, with 270 games in the second tier under his belt, and could yet be of significant use to the Saints.

Under contract on the South Coast until the summer of 2028, should a significant offer not arrive for him this summer, then Southampton could do a lot worse than finding a way to reintegrate the Chilean back into their plans.

Capable of playing anywhere across the forward line, Brereton Diaz would offer Eckert a lot of versatility, and a different option in almost all positions.

With Stewart on his way out, it's about time Southampton got their money's worth for Brereton Diaz, in what would be like a completely new signing for the Saints.

Tonda Eckert must make a key decision on the future of Ben Brereton Diaz this summer

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With Stewart having left the club, there is a gap to filled up top for Southampton.

Though Canadian international Larin will almost certainly play a big role for the Saints next season following his permanent addition, he will need strong competition to push him to the next level, and that could be where Brereton Diaz could be of use.

Derby boss Eustace has previously expressed his desire to bring back his loan players from last season, including the Chilean, and it would be no surprise if the Rams make a formal move for the 27-year-old sooner rather than later.

If and when that does happen, Eckert must make a decision on whether to keep Brereton Diaz around or not, and should absolutely consider persisting with the former Blackburn forward following the exit of Stewart.