Southampton manager addresses the future of Ben Brereton Diaz as Derby County targets him.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has praised Ben Brereton Diaz for the attitude he has shown since returning to the club this summer, but stopped short of guaranteeing that the Chile international will remain at St Mary’s beyond the current transfer window.

The forward has become one of Derby County’s primary transfer targets after an impressive loan spell at Pride Park last season, and the Championship side remain eager to bring him back on a permanent basis or through another temporary deal.

Ben Brereton-Diaz celebrates scoring for Derby County against Coventry City with Bobby Clark(Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Although Southampton are pleased with how Brereton Diaz has reintegrated into the squad during pre-season, Eckert acknowledged that transfer decisions can change as the summer window progresses, leaving his future uncertain.

Derby County Remain Strongly Interested

Derby County manager John Eustace has made no secret of his admiration for Brereton Diaz and is hopeful of reuniting with the attacker ahead of the new Championship campaign.

The Chile international enjoyed a productive spell with the Rams last season, making a positive impression after arriving on loan and playing an important role during the second half of the campaign.

Eustace believes Brereton Diaz possesses the experience and quality needed to strengthen Derby’s attacking options as the club targets another successful season.

The Rams have already welcomed familiar faces back to Pride Park, with Sam Szmodics and Bobby Clark returning, and Brereton Diaz is viewed as another player capable of making an immediate impact.

Bringing him back would provide continuity while adding further attacking depth to Eustace’s squad.

Limited Opportunities at Southampton

Brereton Diaz still has two years remaining on his Southampton contract after joining the club from Villarreal in a deal worth around £7 million two years ago.

Despite arriving with considerable expectations, opportunities at St Mary’s have been limited.

Since completing his move, the forward has made only 15 appearances for Southampton, struggling to establish himself as a regular starter.

That lack of consistent game time contributed to his temporary switch to Derby County, where he rediscovered rhythm and confidence through regular football.

His performances during that loan spell have naturally increased speculation about another move away from Southampton this summer.

Speculation Continues Throughout Pre-Season

Uncertainty surrounding Brereton Diaz’s future has remained a major talking point during Southampton’s pre-season preparations.

Despite persistent transfer rumours linking him with Derby County, the attacker has continued to feature in Southampton’s friendly matches, demonstrating his commitment while remaining available for selection.

Reports have suggested that Brereton Diaz would welcome the opportunity to return to Pride Park, where he enjoyed regular football and developed a strong relationship with both the coaching staff and supporters.

Nevertheless, no final decision has yet been made regarding his next move.

For now, he remains a Southampton player and continues preparing alongside the rest of the squad.

Eckert Praises Player’s Professionalism

Speaking about Brereton Diaz’s situation, Tonda Eckert was full of praise for the professionalism shown by the Chile international since reporting back for pre-season.

The Southampton manager stressed that, regardless of ongoing transfer speculation, Brereton Diaz has approached training with the correct attitude and has fully committed himself to the team’s preparations.

Eckert explained that the most important fact at present is that the forward remains under contract with Southampton.

As far as the manager is concerned, every player currently at the club deserves the same welcome and support upon returning for pre-season, regardless of rumours linking them with moves elsewhere.

That philosophy has allowed Brereton Diaz to settle comfortably back into the group.

Positive Influence Inside the Dressing Room

Eckert also highlighted the forward’s personality and ability to integrate with teammates throughout the dressing room.

According to the Southampton boss, Brereton Diaz has built positive relationships across different groups within the squad, something he views as an important quality during pre-season.

The manager suggested that the attacker has adapted smoothly since returning and has contributed positively both on and off the pitch.

His performances during friendly matches have also reinforced Eckert’s belief that the player remains capable of making valuable contributions whenever called upon.

For those reasons, Southampton have been pleased with everything Brereton Diaz has shown since rejoining the squad.

Future Still Depends on the Transfer Window

Although Eckert spoke warmly about the player, he deliberately avoided guaranteeing that Brereton Diaz would still be at Southampton once the transfer window closes.

Instead, he acknowledged that football clubs regularly face important decisions throughout every transfer window.

While emphasising that Brereton Diaz currently belongs to Southampton, Eckert accepted that circumstances can change as negotiations develop.

Rather than ruling out a departure, he indicated that everyone would simply have to wait and see how the remainder of the window unfolds.

His comments leave open the possibility that the striker could still depart before the deadline if an acceptable agreement is reached.

John Eustace Keen on Reunion

Meanwhile, Derby County manager John Eustace has openly admitted that Brereton Diaz remains one of the players he would like to add to his squad.

Discussing Derby’s transfer plans, Eustace explained that his objective is to recruit proven Championship-quality players capable of improving the team immediately.

He pointed to Brereton Diaz’s successful performances during the second half of last season as evidence of the qualities he could once again bring to Pride Park.

Eustace believes adding experienced attacking players will increase Derby’s chances of competing for a place in the Championship’s top eight this season.

That ambition explains why the Rams continue monitoring Brereton Diaz’s situation so closely.

Derby Face Challenges Off the Pitch

While outlining his transfer ambitions, Eustace also acknowledged that Derby are dealing with issues away from football.

Potential takeover discussions and uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership have complicated recruitment plans during the current transfer window.

Even so, Eustace made it clear that he remains eager to strengthen his squad before the Championship season begins.

With only a short period remaining before the opening fixture, the Derby manager wants as many quality additions as possible through the door.

Brereton Diaz remains among the club’s preferred targets because of his familiarity with the squad, his proven Championship experience and the positive impact he made during his previous spell.

Important Weeks Ahead for All Parties

As the summer transfer window moves towards its conclusion, Brereton Diaz’s future remains one of Southampton’s most closely watched situations.

The forward has impressed Tonda Eckert with both his attitude and performances during pre-season, ensuring he remains a valued member of the current squad.

At the same time, Derby County continue working in the hope of bringing him back to Pride Park, where John Eustace believes he could play a major role in another promotion challenge.

Whether Brereton Diaz remains at Southampton or secures a return to Derby will likely depend on negotiations over the coming weeks.

Until then, Eckert’s position is straightforward: Brereton Diaz is still a Southampton player, he has behaved professionally throughout pre-season, and any decisions regarding his future will become clearer before the transfer window finally closes.