Tonda Eckert: Southampton may sanction double exit as Derby & Sheffield United circle | OneFootball

Southampton could allow Ben Brereton Diaz and Mads Roerslev to leave the club before the window closes

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has revealed that talks are taking place over Ben Brereton Diaz's departure from St Mary's before the transfer window closes, and Mads Roerslev could be following suit, too.

Brereton Diaz's future always seemed to lie away from St Mary's, after spending the last 18 months out on loan with Sheffield United and, more recently, Derby County, but in the interim, the Chilean forward featured in the opening two games of the 2026/27 campaign.

Meanwhile, Roerslev, who only just arrived last summer from Brentford for £3 million, only featured in the first two games of Tonda Eckert's interim stint last November, with his campaign curtailed after just 10 appearances due to an Achilles injury.

The one-time Danish international featured in pre-season for Southampton, but hasn't made a matchday squad in any of their four competitive matches thus far.

Tonda Eckert gives exit update as transfer window enters its final week

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Any possibility that Brereton Diaz could be integrated back into the Southampton fold this season after he started their EFL Cup first-round matchup against Colchester United and made the bench against Watford in the Championship opener has been quickly rebuffed.

The 27-year-old, who arrived from Villarreal for £7 million two summers ago, hasn't made the matchday squad in either of the two games this past week, and speaking to the Daily Echo after the 4-1 defeat to West Ham United on Tuesday night, Saints boss Tonda Eckert expects there to be some exit talks in the next week, with both Derby County and Sheffield United - his two former loan clubs- circling.

"There are some conversations and negotiations taking place at the moment, and I would expect there to be some news," Eckert said.

"You can look at the squad, and you can see who's involved and who's not. It's not a secret that there is still going to be some movement over the next days."

One man not involved in any squads thus far has been Roerslev, with Eckert opting to start James Bree in all four games this season, not even including the Dane on the bench to back him up.

With the 27-year-old returning from a lengthy injury layoff this summer, the German head coach is open to him leaving so he can get back to being match fit, as the presence of Bree will make it difficult for that to take place at St Mary's.

"I think that James [Bree] played almost every single game last year," Eckert continued. "I have big trust in James, and it's just a normal conversation. If you are out injured for almost a year, what is the best way to find rhythm again? At this moment, it's clear that James is our number one.

"We'll see what we do over the next days. Let's see what they bring."

How Southampton fans have reacted to Mads Roerslev possibly leaving this summer

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Bree's resurgence into the Saints squad and being awarded a new contract this summer was definitely not predicted when he was loaned out to Charlton Athletic by Will Still 12 months ago, but the 28-year-old has been a stalwart under Tonda Eckert.

Therefore, there isn't much opposition to Roerslev moving on in the next week, as most fans associate his time at the club with their terrible start to last year before Eckert came in.

"Always thought it was a bit of an odd signing even when he played…he didn’t look like an improvement," one fan said in response to Eckert's comments about Roerslev possibly leaving before the window closes.

"Who?" another added, sarcastically, while another, on the same wavelength, questioned, "Mads Roerslev could leave before the window closes. Would anyone even notice?"

Evidently, Saints fans aren't too opposed to the Danish full-back leaving in some capacity this summer.

Mads Roerslev and Ben Brereton Diaz will be the highlights of a busy final week of departures at Southampton this summer

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Brereton Diaz and Roerslev likely won't be the only two players set to leave St Mary's this summer. Indeed, Tonda Eckert has quite a few loose parts in his senior squad who will be looking for new homes before the window shuts next Tuesday.

The Echo states that goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale and Gavin Bazunu, alongside right-back Yuki Sugawara and striker Damion Downes, aren't in the Saints boss' plans.

All four spent last season out on loan, but evidently didn't do much to impress Eckert to warrant a place back in the Saints squad for his first full campaign in charge.

Southampton are also looking to add a central midfielder to plug the gap left by Shea Charles, who left for Fulham earlier this summer in a deal worth up to £30 million.