Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has been happy with the way Ben Brereton Diaz has adapted to life back at the club but refused to rule out an exit from the Saints this summer.

Derby County head coach John Eustace is eager re-sign the Chile international after his loan spell last season and reunite him with Sam Szmodics and Bobby Clark who have already returned to Pride Park.

Brereton Diaz still has another two years left on his contract with Saints for whom he has only made 15 appearances since joining the club two years ago from Villarreal for a £7m fee.

He has featured for the Saints in pre-season amid intense speculation over his future with the attacker thought to be keen on a switch back to Derby.

Eckert says Brereton Diaz has been a model professional since his return south but did not slam the door shut on his exit.

"Well, the first thing for me is that there's always decisions taken at what point at every football club, but Ben is a Southampton player," Eckert told the Daily Echo.

"That is everything that matters for me. That is not just true for him, it's true for the others.

"I think it is up to us to welcome everyone back into the club and I think that he's shown what he can do in the pre-season games.

"So far, I'm very happy with the way that he's integrated back into the group.

"He seems to be very well connected to all parts of the dressing room which is always a nice thing that you can jump from one group to another.

"So I'm very happy with him and having him around and then we'll see where the window takes us."

Asked about Brereton Diaz yesterday, Eustace said: "I'd like to bring in top players at this level who can help us improve.

"Ben did terrific in the second half of the season last year. We need to bring in as many good players as we can to help us try to get in that top eight.

"It is a difficult time with things happening off the pitch with potential takeovers and what not, I get that. But we are two weeks away from the big kick-off and I want to bring in as many quality players as I can to help the group and the club move forward."