Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz is set to join Sheffield United on loan, ending Stoke City's reported hopes of signing the Chile international. The 27-year-old is due for a medical at Bramall Lane ahead of the transfer window closing on Tuesday, September 1.
Journalist Pete O'Rourke stated the situation clearly. "Understand Sheffield United have won the race for Southampton attacker Ben Brereton Diaz," he said. "The Chile international is due for a medical at Bramall Lane today. Derby and Stoke were also in for Brereton Diaz."
Stoke City were linked with a loan move for the experienced forward as they seek to improve their attacking options. The Potters have struggled for goals in the early stages of the Championship season, finding themselves 24th in the table with zero points from three games. Their recent form reads as three consecutive losses, and they have scored just three goals while conceding nine.
The player spent the entire 2025/26 season on loan at Derby County, where he scored eight goals in 41 appearances across all competitions. He has a strong history with his likely new club, Sheffield United, having already had two previous loan spells there in 2024 and 2025. Across those 34 appearances for the Blades, he found the net ten times. Despite this, he has managed only two appearances for his parent club Southampton in the very early part of the current campaign, leading to the expectation of another temporary exit.
Missing out on Brereton Diaz means Stoke's search for reinforcements continues as the deadline looms. The club's need is amplified by their current league position, sitting nine points behind early leaders Charlton Athletic. Managerial attention will now turn to other targets, with the existing squad needing to find form quickly. The club also has several injury concerns, with players including A. Cresswell, A. Ampah, L. Cisse, and J. Tchamadeu currently sidelined.
With the window closing at 11pm on Tuesday, Stoke must act fast if they are to bring in any new faces. After that point, only free agents will be available for registration. The immediate focus returns to the pitch and preparing for the Norwich match, a chance to secure a first positive result of the season. Improving the team's defensive solidity will be as important as finding goals, given their negative six goal difference. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings as the season develops.
