(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Fri 10 April 2026 14:00, UK

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Leo Scienza is a wanted man at Southampton, with Aston Villa working to try and prise him away in the summer transfer window.

The Villans are part of a whole host of Premier League clubs who are keen to try and sign the winger, with Tottenham, Fulham, Leeds and Everton also interested, according to reports from ESPN in Brazil.

The 27-year-old has had Premier League clubs in attendance at St Mary’s to watch him in recent weeks, not least in the Saints’ recent FA Cup victory over Arsenal, when he dazzled with a Player of the Match performance.

Scienza has notched six goals and eight assists during his debut campaign in the Championship, and Southampton are now set to face a battle to keep hold of him for next season.

Aston Villa’s transfer plans are taking shape ahead of the upcoming window, and any move for Scienza looks set to have major implications elsewhere in the squad.

Southampton resigned to losing Leo Scienza

Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Southampton have reluctantly resigned themselves to losing Scienza if they fail to get promoted at the end of the season.

The South Coast outfit are aware of the growing interest in the Brazilian, and they have accepted that there is little chance of them being able to fend off any advances if they remain a Championship club next term.

They are hopeful that they may be able to convince him to stay if they can secure promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs, but even that could prove difficult given the race that is building for his signature.

Villa are likely well-placed to be at the front of that race this summer, given that they are set to be able to offer Champions League football to their targets.

However, landing Scienza would surely have a major effect on Leon Bailey, who has been on the fringes of the squad since he was recalled from his loan at Roma back in January.

The Jamaica international has already found himself down the pecking order at Villa Park this term, and the arrival of another new wideman would surely force him towards the exit door as a result.

Aston Villa set plan for Leon Bailey replacement in January

Football Insider revealed back in February that Villa will accept any “suitable” offers for Bailey this summer, with Unai Emery still adamant that he sees no long-term future for the former Bayer Leverkusen man.

The second city outfit took the decision to recall Bailey to ensure that they had enough depth to maintain their push for Champions League qualification, and never truly envisaged him becoming a key part of the team.

It has always been in their plans to try and sell Bailey this summer, and while they initially forfeited that chance by cutting short the loan-to-buy deal with Roma, it is inevitable that they try again this time around.

They now appear to have identified their ideal replacement for him in Scienza, which is surely set to put the cogs in motion for his permanent departure if a deal can be struck.