Southampton have been in fine form in the Championship this season. They are currently fourth on the table and are in contention to make a return to the English top flight. Some of their standout performers have attracted a lot of interest from clubs in the Premier League.
Leo Scienza, who is having a dream debut campaign for the Saints, finds himself on the wishlist of quite a few top clubs. According to a report from Football Insider, Leeds United are keen on his signature, but they are unlikely to get their hands on him, as Southampton remain optimistic about blocking his exit.
Scienza made the move to England last summer from Heidenheim, and he hasn’t looked back since. He has 20 goal contributions this season, 17 of which have come for the Saints in his 38 outings. While he prefers playing as a number ten, he has been equally effective on the left flank.
His performances have impressed scouts of a number of Premier League clubs, who believe he is ready to play in the top flight. Leeds United are quite keen on his signature as they seek more quality and competition in the final third.
With Facundo Buonanotte set to return to his parent club Brighton in the summer, Daniel Farke is keen on bringing in a quality attacking midfielder who can compete with Brenden Aaronson. Not only will Scienza give him more options centrally, but his ability to feature on the flanks could also come in handy.
He has emerged as a leading target for Leeds. However, they will struggle to strike a deal with the Saints, who have no intentions of selling him. They are optimistic about keeping hold of him and are willing to block a potential exit.
If they manage to secure promotion, he will certainly continue at Southampton, but even if they don’t, the Saints will try to keep hold of him. It won’t be that straightforward, but they feel they can convince him to continue with them.