Mark Robins can secure emotional transfer after Southampton’s action | OneFootball

Stoke City should prepare a move for Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz this summer

The beginning of the new Championship season is almost here, and as for Stoke City, the Potters got the majority of their business done nice and early, though Mark Robins ought not to rest on his laurels just yet.

Stoke begin their 2026/27 Championship season by hosting Swansea City on Saturday, where they will hope to kick off with all three points.

Five new faces have the potential to make their second-tier debuts for the club that day, namely Joshua Griffiths, Djibril Soumare, Svante Ingelsson, Ethan Galbraith, and Luke Graham, each of whom were signed before the squad jetted off to Austria for their pre-season camp.

It’s been over a month without additions, though Robins doesn’t appear to be done adding to his roster just yet, with a £3.5 million deal for Ipswich Town right-back Harry Clarke having been agreed, whilst a move for his teammate, George Hirst, has also been touted.

Norwegian striker Daniel Karlsbakk has also been linked with a move to the Potteries, though as Robins eyes up reinforcements in the final third, a reunion with a former academy star should be on the cards.

Stoke City should plot a reunion with Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz this summer

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With links to Hirst and Karlsbakk having been reported over the last month or so, it’s clear to see that Robins isn’t totally satisfied with his attacking options at Stoke just yet.

This is despite having each of Sam Gallagher, Robert Bozenik, Lamine Cisse, and Milan Smit to pick from up top, though the latter appears to be out of favour, despite having signed permanently just the other month for £4.8 million following his loan deal from Go Ahead Eagles.

Moves for Hirst and Karlsbakk have gone quiet in recent days and weeks, as Robins should instead plot a move for Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz this summer.

Brereton Diaz came through the youth ranks at Stoke, but failed to make a single senior appearance for the Potters, instead enjoying his breakthrough with Nottingham Forest before joining Blackburn Rovers in 2018.

The Chilean international scored 45 and assisted 15 in 177 games across all competitions during his time at Ewood Park, eventually earning a move to Spanish side Villarreal on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, but largely struggled during his brief spell across the continent, and would return to England with Sheffield United on loan six months later, before joining Southampton permanently for around £7 million 12 months after initially leaving for Spain.

However, the 27-year-old has managed just 15 first-team appearances for Southampton in two years, instead spending time out on loan with Sheffield United again, and then Derby County most recently, with whom he made 40 appearances across all competitions, scoring seven and assisting three.

Now, according to Darren Witcoop via X, Brereton Diaz is likely to leave the club this summer, and Stoke should be right at the front of the queue for his services to secure an emotional return.

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Aside from formerly being a season ticket holder at the bet365 Stadium, there are numerous reasons why Brereton Diaz would be an excellent option for Stoke this summer.

Capable of playing as an out-and-out centre-forward or anywhere in behind the striker, the Chilean offers a versatility that Robins could make incredible use of, offering competition to the likes of Sorba Thomas, Lamine Cisse, and Million Manhoef in behind.

In his recent campaign with Derby, the 27-year-old was utilised in various roles for the Rams in a couple of different systems, whether that was on the left or right of a 4-2-3-1, or as one of the attacking midfielders in a 3-4-2-1.

Now entering what ought to be his prime years, the Chilean international has previously shown his capability of hitting double figures in the Championship, having hit 22 goals and three assists in 37 Championship appearances during the 2021/22 campaign.

There is no reason that, in the right team and system, he can't go and do it once more, and for a club that will be as close to his heart as Stoke, Southampton allowing his exit could be an opportunity the Potters won't get again, and should be at the front of the queue for his signature this summer.

Mark Robins must source more attacking options at Stoke City before the end of the window and should consider Ben Brereton Diaz

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Stoke are in desperate need of some more attacking options before the end of the window.

The Potters, aside from Sorba Thomas, were toothless in the final third last campaign, and their lack of clinical touch in attack resulted in them tumbling down the Championship table after an excellent start to the year.

That simply cannot be repeated, as different options in that area are an absolute necessity for Robins, especially with the departure of Lewis Baker and South Korean attacking-midfielder Bae Jun-Ho seemingly on his way to Lyon.

Brereton-Diaz would provide the Potters some much-needed Championship experience and quality, and simply must be considered by Robins over the coming days and weeks.