Ben Breretan Diaz should be signed by Ipswich Town, Leeds United, or Southampton this summer, according to Darren Bent.
Ipswich was given automatic promotion to the Premier League for the next season, therefore they will need to assemble a team that can stay in the division for more than a single campaign.
This weekend’s matchup between Leeds and Southampton, who are vying for third place in the promotion playoffs, will decide who advances through the play-offs.
During his loan stint at Sheffield United in the second part of the season, Brereton Diaz scored six goals in 14 league games (all figures courtesy of Fbref).
The forward will return to Villarreal this summer, where he has struggled for game time since joining as a free agent 12 months ago.
Darren Bent makes Ben Brereton Diaz transfer claim
Bent believes that Ipswich or one of Leeds and Southampton should be taking a look at signing Brereton Diaz this summer in order to bolster their attacking options.
The 40-year-old has claimed the Chile international is too good for the Championship, and has plenty to offer one of the promoted sides in the Premier League next season.
“He got six in 14. Nearly one in two,” said Bent, via Talksport.
“At Sheffield United. Come on.
“He went away to Villarreal, didn’t really play and then came back to Sheffield United.
“He is definitely one, if I am Ipswich, Leeds or Southampton. I think, yes, he is definitely [too good for the Championship].”
Brereton Diaz was a key figure in the Championship at Blackburn Rovers prior to his move to Villarreal.
The 25-year-old contributed 36 goals and seven assists in his final two campaigns at Ewood Park before departing at the end of his contract.
Ben Brereton Diaz’s difficult Villarreal move
This led to a move to La Liga, where he struggled to adapt to his new surroundings.
Brereton Diaz made just 14 appearances in the Spanish top flight, including only two starts, before signing for the Blades on loan in January of this year.
However, he was unable to help keep Sheffield United in the Premier League, as the Yorkshire outfit suffered relegation back to the second tier.
The forward’s future is undecided heading into the summer market, but Ipswich and the winner of this weekend’s play-off final will both be looking to improve their squads before their top flight season gets underway.
Perhaps a move for Brereton Diaz could be on the cards following his positive performances in an otherwise struggling Sheffield United team.
