<p>With the loan transfer of Ben Brereton-Diaz imminent, Sheffield United may have made their first signing of the new year.</p>



<p>In a move to keep the Yorkshire club out of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/championship-tv-schedule/">Championship</a> right away, Blades owner Prince Abdullah will support head coach Chris Wilder this month.</p>



<p>Sheffield have failed to impress this season, earning only nine points from 20 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a> games. As a result, they find themselves seven points behind Everton, who are now in 17th place.</p>



<p>During the summer transfer window, they saw Iliman Ndiaye leave for Marseille and Sander Berge join Burnley. Thus, Blades fans are left wanting quality alternatives for the midfield and attacking positions.</p>



<p>Chris Wilder is making good on his promise to move quickly. Thus, they are hoping to address the situation by signing Villareal’s Brereton Diaz this month.</p>



<h2>Loan with no option to buy?</h2>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-line-up-international-striker-ben-brereton-diaz-linked-with-leeds-united-as-first-transfer-of-january-window-4463751" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Star</a>‘s sources, the English side is in the process of finalizing a deal to sign the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/chile-national-team-tv-schedule">Chilean national team</a> ace. The striker was made available by Villarreal and is poised to join the Blades on loan.</p>



<p>When the 24-year-old’s contract with Blackburn Rovers ended in the summer, he departed for Spain. Yet, in 25 appearances for his new team and his nation this season, he has been unable to score a goal.</p>



<p>In particular, in 14 La Liga outings, the 24-year-old has failed to find the back of the net. Because of this, Marcelino Garcia has freed up the striker for a short-term transfer.</p>



<p>The Englishmen have earlier approved Benie Traore’s loan departure to French club Nantes, which includes a summer option to make the move permanent. Thus, United are looking to bolster their striking depth. But Diaz’s loan to the Premier League will not include a buyout clause.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240104_WST_481272_Brereton-Diaz-Sheffield-United-1200x675_b3da0919.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-481295" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Brereton-Diaz-Sheffield-United-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Brereton-Diaz-Sheffield-United-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Brereton-Diaz-Sheffield-United-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Brereton-Diaz-Sheffield-United.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>A huge improvement over Benie Traore, Ben Brereton-Diaz is a must-have addition. While he may struggle with form in Spain, his experience makes up for it. Depending on Wilder’s ability to get him going, it may be a fantastic short-term investment.</p>



<h2>Ben Brereton-Diaz finally gets a Premier League move with Sheffield United</h2>



<p>A product of Stoke, the attacker spent a lot of time with England’s minor teams before deciding to play for Chile. Although he was born in England, Diaz’s mother was born in Concepcion and went by the maiden name Diaz. Therefore, he has the right to represent Chile during international competitions.</p>



<p>The striker will be in attendance against Valencia before making the journey to England to complete his transfer. As he searches for his goal-scoring form, he may soon be returning to the Premier League.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.footballinsider247.com/ben-brereton-diaz-sheffield-united-reach-full-agreement-over-signing-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Football Insider</a> has also revealed that the reported transfer has been finalized. As a result, Diaz will spend the rest of the season at Bramall Lane. On Saturday, January 6, Chris Wilder’s team will face Gillingham in an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/fa-cup-tv-schedule/">FA Cup</a> match, and Brereton Diaz will be a part of that group.</p>



<p>He had seven seasons in the Championship before making the jump to the Premier League with his transfer to Sheffield. Diaz started his professional career in the Manchester United youth system before transferring to Nottingham Forest via Stoke, the club he played for as a child. </p>



<p>After a good run at Blackburn, the Premier League courted him. Nevertheless, he decided to prove himself overseas when Villareal made their approach.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Sheffield United on verge of welcoming Chile star in EPL

With the loan transfer of Ben Brereton-Diaz imminent, Sheffield United may have made their first signing of the new year.

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
<p>There has been lively activity in the French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, with Ben Brereton Díaz among the possible names to join the club.</p>
<p>The change this summer is both good and bad. Manager Christophe Galtier departed after guiding the club to the Europa Conference League qualifiers. In his stead, Lucien Favre takes over as manager in his second stint with the club. Previously, Favre took Nice to the UEFA Champions League with a third-place finish, the club’s highest placement in decades. </p>
<p>Ben Brereton Díaz is one of the up and coming names Favre wants to add to a slew of signings at Nice. Currently, Brereton Díaz plays for Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship. In 2021/22, the Chilean international scored 22 goals. This season, he has two goals and an assist to his name in just four appearances for Blackburn.</p>
<p>Brereton Díaz has courtship from a number of clubs outside of Nice, as well. However, it was the French contingent to submit the first bid for his services. According to multiple outlets, Nice submitted a bid of around $10 million. Yet, with interest rising, Blackburn likely rejected the offer. After all, Premier League clubs Everton, Leeds and Bournemouth all put their names in the running to land Ben Brereton Díaz.</p>
<h3>Ben Brereton Díaz would be next key signing for Nice</h3>
<p>Nice’s intention to land Brereton Díaz represents the club’s ambitions. Already, Lucien Favre brought over a handful of names from top clubs to improve upon what Galtier did a season ago.</p>
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Excl: OGC Nice have submitted an opening proposal for Ben Brereton Díaz. Bid worth 10m to open talks with Blackburn. 🚨🇨🇱 <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/hashtag/OGCNice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OGCNice</a></p>
<p>No updates on Edinson Cavani as his priority is La Liga since February – talks now on for Brereton Díaz. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/er4gklsNek">pic.twitter.com/er4gklsNek</a></p>
<p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1559598579085459457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2022</a></p></blockquote></div>
<p><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>A pair of goalkeepers come over in the form of Marcin Bulka from Paris St Germain and Kasper Schmeichel from Leicester City. They replace Walter Benítez, who departed on a free to PSV Eindhoven.</p>
<p>Nice dished out a <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/ogc-nizza/transfers/verein/417" target="_blank" rel="noopener">combined $28 million</a> for center back Mattia Viti and defensive midfielder Alexis Beka Beka. The pair form a new spine for OGC Nice built for years, with the players aged 20 and 21, respectively.</p>
<p>Favre’s influence also landed Aaron Ramsey on a free transfer from Juventus. The Welsh international sees Nice as a chance to return to form and fitness ahead of the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">2022 World Cup</a>. In fact, Ramsey came off the bench to score Nice’s equalizer in the season-opening game against Toulouse.</p>
<p>Ben Brereton Díaz would top off this new look core for Nice as Favre looks to push for Champions League qualification.</p>
<h5>Goal scoring competition at Nice</h5>
<p>Nice does already have interesting options up top that Brereton Díaz would have to compete against.</p>
<p>22-year-old French forward Amine Gouiri had 10 goals and nine assists last season. Danish International Kasper Dolberg bagged just six goals and two assists in 26 games. Finally, Andy Delort, an Algerian International, scored 16 goals and made two assists in his first season with the club.</p>
<p>Brereton Díaz would be a further goal scoring threat. Dolberg failed to be prolific last season. Consequently, he failed to be named to Nice’s squad to start the season.</p>
<p>Gouiri can play in a wide role as well, which leaves Delort the current favored center forward. Brereton Díaz’s potential move across the channel adds another goal scorer, adding competition to the position. Apparently, Favre does not believe Dolberg can do that.</p>
<h5>Other arrivals</h5>
<p>The other player who reportedly on Nice’s radar is Chelsea left back Emerson Palmieri. The 28-year-old Italian failed to make an impact on the first team. Therefore, he spent last season on loan at Lyon, making 29 appearances.</p>
<p>Favre sees a need to add depth at fullback, especially on the left side with Melvin Bard being the only natural left back in the first team squad currently. A player like Emerson adds flexibility in providing depth on both sides. Another loan deal in France could benefit the player and Nice in securing more game time and earning a permanent move away from the English capital.</p>
<p>Nice look set to build a squad who can compete to a top and improve on last season’s impressive displays. They finished fifth, but just three points behind Monaco in third. Ligue 1 will be very competitive once again for the places below a dominant PSG, who are now managed by Nice’s former coach Galtier.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Paul Greenwood – CameraSport via Getty Images</em></p>


Ben Brereton Díaz, a promising striker playing for Championship side Blackburn, is rumored to be making the switch across the channel to Nice

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Ben Brereton-Diaz"

Chile

Sheffield United on verge of welcoming Chile star in EPL

Blackburn Rovers

Ben Brereton Díaz rumors signal ambitious signings from Nice