Brazilian club enter transfer saga involving Derby County and Southampton | OneFootball

Ben Brereton Diaz looks to be in-demand as the January transfer window takes shape

A South American giant have entered the mix for Ben Brereton-Diaz's services in January, with his future at loan side Derby County uncertain.

As revealed by Football League World in August, Derby were in talks to sign Brereton Diaz from Southampton late on in the summer window, and they managed to get a deal over the line on a season-long loan arrangement.

The Chile international forward hasn't been a hit at Pride Park though, scoring just once in his 19 Championship appearances, and it appears that Derby may be open to terminating their agreement with the forward early - and there's more than one interested party when it comes to wanting to sign the 26-year-old this month.

Corinthians join Ben Brereton Diaz transfer chase

In December, it was reported by Italian journalist Luca Bendoni that MLS franchise Toronto FC were interested in signing Brereton Diaz this month, with the Canadian outfit's new season set to begin in a couple of months time in March.

They appear to have been joined by a South American super-power though, as according to a report from Chile-based La Tercera - via Brazilian agency RTI Esporte - Corinthians have now entered the fray for the attacker.

It is claimed that Brereton Diaz has been 'made available' for transfer this month, and that he has been offered to clubs such as Toronto and Corinthians, with the approval of his representatives - both of those sides are said to be 'evaluating' the terms of a potential deal.

Any deal to take Brereton Diaz away from Derby though would require Southampton's approval, given the nature of the season-long deal that was agreed back in August, but that will likely not be an issue if the contributions by another club are the same as what the Rams have been paying for the 40-cap international.

Derby County letting Ben Brereton Diaz depart could give John Eustace room to manoeuvre in January

With Derby estimated to be paying £25,000 of Brereton Diaz's £35,000-per-week salary, as per Capology, a big chunk of the wage bill could be removed should a move for the Chilean be sorted.

Even though he's playing regularly under John Eustace, it just isn't really working out for Brereton at Pride Park, and a move across the Atlantic Ocean to either Canada or Brazil could give him a new lease of life.

It's easy to forget that Brereton Diaz is still only 26 years of age, which is a surprise given how long he's been around since his Nottingham Forest breakthrough, but he's not showed anywhere near the goalscoring abilities in recent times like when he was at Blackburn Rovers, which earned him his move to Villarreal of La Liga.

If Eustace wants to bring in more of a goalscoring threat at Derby this month, then it'll be in his best interests to try and work with Southampton to find Brereton Diaz a new club - and with Corinthians now said to be at the table, it could happen sooner rather than later.