Derby County, West Brom and Stoke City should react quickly to Southampton contract decision | OneFootball

With Will Smallbone set to depart Southampton on a free transfer this summer, Derby, West Brom and Stoke should be racing to bring the Irishman in

Will Smallbone's 18-year association with Southampton will come to an end this summer, as the Irishman looks set to part at the end of his contract.

The 26-year-old came through the Saints academy and played a starring role in their promotion from the Championship under Russell Martin in the 2023/24 campaign.

But he was never able to crack the Premier League with Southampton due to injury or selection issues, and was sent out on loan last summer to Millwall, with Will Still deciding not to utilise Smallbone a couple of years after his strong second-tier campaign at St Mary's.

Unfortunately, injury struck again for the Irishman at the Den. A hamstring injury early in the campaign sidelined him for close to five months, and he struggled to get back into Alex Neil's side amidst their promotion push late on, upon his return.

Just 10 appearances all season weren't enough to convince Southampton to give Smallbone a new deal, as Alex Crook reported that the 26-year-old will be on the move this summer.

If he can stay fit, the midfielder could be a brilliant pick-up on a free transfer for the majority of Championship clubs. Here are three who should be banking on him returning to the peak of his powers and considering a move this summer.

Derby County

An attacking midfielder will likely be atop the Derby County transfer wishlist this summer, with the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Ben Brereton Diaz set to leave Pride Park at the end of their loan spells, plus Patrick Agyemang, who can deputise there, not set to return from an Achilles injury until 2027.

We saw Smallbone excel at Southampton in a system under Russell Martin, where his primary role was to get on the ball and create chances, rather than take on numerous players and get stuck into duels, per his stats that year.

And, with the likes of Lewis Travis behind him, plus another tough-tackling midfielder likely set to arrive this summer, with David Ozoh and Bobby Clark also set to return to parent clubs at the end of a loan spell, the attacking midfield role at Pride Park doesn't rely on being able to get stuck into challenges, either.

Szmodics was in the lower half of attacking midfielders in the Championship last season for duels won, and was in the lower 40% for successful dribbles, so if John Eustace is looking for someone of a similar ilk, if he is unable to bring the Ipswich Town man back permanently, Smallbone could fill that gap.

Plus, the Irishman has been influential in a promotion campaign before, and if that's Derby's goal next term, he'd provide much-needed experience towards achieving it.

West Bromwich Albion

Despite a poor season this past campaign, West Brom are still one of the premier sides in the Championship and will be targeting at least a top-eight finish in 2026/27, so top-end second-tier stars will be on their shopping list this summer.

James Morrison came in and revitalised the Baggies towards the end of the season, steering them away from relegation with a strong defensive base and a rigid four-four-two system.

But, with the new campaign on the horizon and the points tallies reset to zero, all eyes will be on whether the young head coach will continue with a system that brings about good results in a time of need, or if he'll be more expansive with there being a little more room for error.

Either way, Smallbone would be a good pickup for West Brom, who could be looking to bolster their attacking midfield position if Isaac Price remains as a creative winger, which he was during the latter stages under James Morrison.

Ollie Bostock could be in for a breakout year in that position, but with just seven Championship appearances under his belt, it would be harsh to rely solely on the 19-year-old in the creative role next year.

Bringing in Smallbone for free could help bridge that gap between being a backup and ultimately overtaking the Irishman in the number 10 position.

Stoke City

Stoke City was where Smallbone enjoyed a breakout year back in the 2022/23 campaign, overseeing his first full season in the first team and, crucially, overseeing no injuries throughout it.

The Irishman made 43 league appearances that year, scoring three times and assisting five. He made a good impression on the fans at the bet365 Stadium, and a move for him this summer could indicate that Stoke aren't content with more mid-table mediocrity.

Additionally, like with Derby, a need for a creative attacking midfielder is a must for Mark Robins' side this summer. This past season, their main outlets came out wide, with Sorba Thomas and Million Manhoef both enjoying good years in terms of goal involvements.

Meanwhile, through the middle, the Potters were bereft of much attacking quality. Jun-ho Bae arguably regressed in 2025/26, registering fewer goal involvements than he did in his two previous seasons at the bet365 Stadium.

While the South Korean international is still just 22 and has plenty of room to improve, Stoke may prefer to turn to someone they know is entering their prime years and know that they can rely on in terms of creating chances and scoring them, too.

All three clubs would have their eyes on his recent injury record, but also know that, if he can stay fit, he'd make a difference in helping them reach their goals this coming campaign.