Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit drops claim on Brereton-Diaz's future at Southampton FC | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has tipped Ben Brereton-Diaz to remain at Southampton, amid concerns of his future in England.

Former Aston Villa midfielder turned Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has tipped Ben Brereton-Diaz to remain at Southampton, amid doubts about the attacker's future.

The former Blackburn Rovers hotshot returned to England in 2024, after making a move from Ewood Park to Spain with Villarreal the following summer.

The Chilean international was a reliable source of goals for the Lancashire outfit, scoring 47 goals and assisting a further 15 over 177 appearances for the Blue and Whites.

However, his move to the Yellow Submarine didn't go as planned, and he was loaned back to England with Sheffield United within six months, before joining Southampton permanently the following summer.

Unfortunately, he also struggled at St Mary's and was sent back to Bramall Lane on loan again for the second-half of last season, where he scored four goals and assisted three in 18 appearances.

Now the Saints have returned to the Championship and Brereton-Diaz has returned to the south coast, doubts have arisen regarding his future with the club, as he failed to make an impression last season.

Lee Hendrie gives his reason for Ben Brereton-Diaz's struggle after England return

Ahead of the start of the new Championship season, Football League World spoke exclusively to former Aston Villa midfielder turned Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie, asking for his opinions on the struggles of Brereton-Diaz.

"Since he's come back to the UK, it hasn't really kicked off for him," Hendrie told FLW.

"There were high hopes of him coming back and really showing what he did that got him his move from when he was at Blackburn, and it hasn't happened.

"Do you put that down to not playing regularly? I think when he was at Blackburn, he was their key go-to man. You knew he was going to play most weeks.

"I think stepping into the more tough sides that have got more quality and more squad depth. I think he's found it really hard to find a way of getting in for starters and then finding that consistency.

"I think it's ok when you're one of the players that is literally first on the team sheet, but when you have to fight for your place, it feels like he's really struggled," the 48-year-old concluded.

Lee Hendrie tips Southampton to retain Brereton-Diaz this summer

FLW also asked Hendrie whether he believed Will Still would keep the 26-year-old at St Mary's this summer, in the hope that he can find a new lease of life by playing a full season in the Championship next term.

He responded: "Will they [Southampton] offload him this summer? It's going to be interesting who will be looking and who will be thinking that they can get the best out of him.

"That's the big question mark, because as we've said we've seen him go to different football clubs, and it hasn't worked for him again.

"It'll be an interesting one to keep an eye on, but I would've thought that Southampton will be looking and maybe thinking that they'll probably keep hold of him this season, particularly in the situation that they're in at the moment," Hendrie concluded.

So far, there have been no concrete links regarding a potential move away from the Saints for the Chilean, and new boss Still has since told BBC Radio Solent that the forward is welcome to stick around.

There are hopes that his levels of experience in the Championship can help Brereton-Diaz rediscover the form that he showed during his Blackburn days, but he will need to earn his spot in the side back first.