Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has identified a potential summer signing amidst their battle to avoid the drop.
Spurs braced for most important game of the season against Everton
There is nothing complicated about Sunday’s equation for Tottenham.
One point against Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and they stay up. Lose, and they need West Ham to drop points against Leeds to avoid the most humiliating relegation in Premier League history.
De Zerbi’s side are two points clear of the Hammers, and while goal difference provides a significant safety net, nobody inside the building is taking anything for granted heading into a genuine nerve-shredder.
Everton, with nothing to play for beyond professional pride, are the kind of opponent Spurs could take advantage of.
However, this season has taught everyone at the club that nothing comes easily.
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The 2-1 defeat at Chelsea was a glaring missed chance for the Lilywhites to confirm their survival, and while De Zerbi has transformed the mood since arriving in late March, the job is not finished until the whistle blows on Sunday afternoon.
If Spurs survive — and they should — the summer window becomes the most important in the club’s recent history.
De Zerbi needs to rebuild a squad that has been nowhere near good enough, and the early indications are that he has already begun compiling a list of targets.
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi targeting Southampton star Leo Scienza
One name that has quietly emerged is Leo Scienza.
According to SportsBoom, the Tottenham manager has added the Southampton attacker to his shortlist of attacking options ahead of what promises to be a busy summer of recruitment.
The 27-year-old Brazilian has been one of the standout performers in the Championship this season, contributing eight goals and 10 assists across all competitions and being voted Southampton’s Player of the Season by his teammates.
His defining moment came in the FA Cup, when he produced a man-of-the-match display to help the Saints knock Arsenal out of the competition.
Scienza joined Southampton from Bundesliga side Heidenheim last September and is tied to a long-term contract running until 2029.
SportsBoom say that Southampton’s internal valuation is believed to sit at around £25m, though there are suggestions that a release clause in the region of £20m could provide a more accessible route.
The spygate scandal has changed the landscape dramatically.
Southampton’s expulsion from the Championship playoff final on Tuesday — after being found guilty of spying on opponents’ training sessions on three separate occasions this season — means the club will remain in the second tier next year.
That reality has significantly weakened their ability to keep hold of their best players.
Scienza is 27 and in his prime. He wants to play at the highest level. Staying in the Championship for a second consecutive season is unlikely to appeal.
Everton and Roma are also monitoring the situation, while Atalanta and several Brazilian clubs have made enquiries.
Scienza’s preference is understood to be a move within European football, and the Premier League is the most attractive destination.
For Spurs, a creative, technically gifted wide player who can operate across the front line and has already proven himself capable of performing on the big occasion would be a valuable addition.
But first things first, Sunday. Then the rebuilding can begin.
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