Southampton have a big fight on its hands with regards to the future of key attacker Leo Scienza amid heavy Premier League interest.
According to Sports Boom, Leo Scienza has considerable interest coming from the Premier League, as at least four clubs are vying for his signature. Southampton have a big fight on their hands with regards to deciding on the Brazilian’s future, with the club only likely to sell at a high asking price.
Southampton signed Leo Scienza from Heidenheim last summer in a bid to improve their attack, and the Brazilian has been much better than initially expected. With six goals and eight assists to his name, the 27-year-old has been a big part of their promotion push via finishing in a playoff spot, something that is still within sight.
Speculation surrounding Scienza’s future has grown exponentially since Southampton’s shock victory over Arsenal in their FA Cup quarter-finals. The Brazilian put in a strong display against the Gunners, which has alerted plenty of Premier League teams, including Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Everton.
All of those teams are eager to add quality attacking options in the upcoming summer window, and could view Scienza as a reliable outlet. The Brazilian can play in the attacking midfield role or as a winger on either flank, which gives him the edge when it comes to tactical flexibility.
Southampton are reportedly seeking at least £25 million for the attacker, or at the minimum double their £9 million investment in the Brazilian. For now, they insist that Scienza is not for sale, which might be a measure to strengthen their market position, although they can only retain him if they were to gain promotion back to the Premier League.
Leo Scienza to Demand Big Wages?
Scienza is reportedly on big wages, and a move to one of the teams like Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Everton or Fulham could increase his chances of improving his salary. He is reportedly seeking a wage bracket of £2.5 million to £3 million net, which will be seen as considerably high by some of those clubs but still within an achievable range.
Southampton are surely not in a position to pay him as much, meaning they might have to ensure promotion to the Premier League to keep hold of the Brazilian. The player’s level has shown he is ready for the big stage, which is the main reason some of those sides are showing strong interest in signing him.
