Derby County have made a move to secure the permanent capture of former loan star Ben Brereton-Diaz.
According to Football Insider, the Rams have made official contact with Southampton in a bid to strike a deal that would see the Chilean international return to Pride Park.
The Stoke-on-Trent born attacker enjoyed a productive spell in the East Midlands last season, scoring eight times and registering three assists to help cement Derby as play-off contenders.
Whilst they ultimately fell short in their quest to reach the top six, Brereton-Diaz's contribution has helped ensure he remained high on boss John Eustace's summer hit-list.
It's understood Derby had hoped to seal a second loan agreement earlier this summer, but Southampton's desire to cash in on the player put pay to their hopes.
However, Derby have returned to the negotiation table over the past 48 hours as they look to agree a fee with the Saints.
Reports suggest Southampton will be looking for around £3.5 million to seal a deal; a figure Derby may look to try and drop down.
The 27-year-old is one of the most in-demand forwards in the second tier this summer, with a number of other clubs including Sheffield United, Wrexham and Bristol City believed to be long-term admirers.
His spell on the south coast has been hugely disappointing, having failed to score a solitary goal for the club since joining for an eight-figure fee two years ago.
