Southampton are in the market for players who will improve their squad ahead of their return to the Premier League.
It would not have taken long for manager Russell Martin‘s attention to turn from promotion celebrations to the summer transfer window.
Experience could be crucial to survival in the top flight and fans will hope owners Sport Republic have learned from the mistakes that saw the club finish bottom of the Premier League in 2022/23.
With striker Che Adams out of contract in the summer and little indication he will sign to new terms despite negotiations ongoing, it seems Southampton are looking for some firepower.
Southampton eyeing up Ben Brereton Diaz
If Adams were to leave upon the end of his current deal, that would leave Southampton with Adam Armstrong, Ross Stewart and Sekou Mara as senior strikers.
Mara could also move on this summer, having failed to make his mark since signing from Bordeaux in 2022, whilst Stewart has played just four games for the club so far due to injury.
Armstrong managed a remarkable 37 goal contributions in the Championship this season, split 24 goals and 13 assists, but played his best football from wide positions.
Perhaps then it is no surprise that latest reports from The Sun suggest the Saints are ‘keen to invest in the forward line this summer and are weighing up a move’ for Ben Brereton Diaz.
The report goes on to state that Southampton are exploring the possibility of either a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation to buy.
Brereton Diaz could be perfect teammate for Adam Armstrong
Brereton Diaz only signed for Villarreal last summer as a free agent but spent the second half of the season on loan at Sheffield United.
Despite the Blades finishing bottom of the table and that loan being the Chile international’s first experience of the Premier League, Brereton Diaz scored an impressive six goals in 14 games.
Armstrong has flourished since the appointment of Martin as manager of Southampton but concerns regarding his ability to translate Championship goals to the top flight remain.
That is due to the fact the 27-year-old has managed just four goals in 68 Premier League games.
The signing of Brereton Diaz could see Armstrong continue his fine form into next season, though, with the 25-year-old proving the perfect foil for the Saint in their time together at Blackburn Rovers.
In Armstrong’s final season for the club he scored 28 Championship goals playing through the middle, with Brereton Diaz playing from a wide left position and netting seven and providing five assists according to Transfermarkt.
When Armstrong moved to the south coast, Brereton Diaz stepped up, scoring 22 in the season that followed, but his manager at the time Tony Mowbray pointed out the difference between the two attackers.
Mowbray said in September 2021: “The starting point is his [Brereton Diaz’] work rate. Strikers obviously always get the glory of scoring goals but he’s a kid who works his socks off for this team, up and down, up and down.
“He’s not playing down the middle, he’s not the Adam Armstrong centre-forward who is there to finish things off.
With their previous relationship and their differing styles, Armstrong and Brereton Diaz could be the perfect foil for each other.
Chris Wilder was certainly a fan of Brereton Diaz in his short spell at Bramall Lane, responding when asked if he could be a star: “Absolutely spot on, I did my homework on him and knew what he was like as a lad and as a player. He’s been outstanding.”