Spurs, Leeds United and Aston Villa in race to sign Southampton star | OneFootball

Southampton's Brazilian maestro is, understandably, the subject of interest from top-flight sides

A standout campaign in his first season in England was always going to have Premier League clubs sniffing around the services of Southampton's Leo Scienza.

The Brazilian wideman has been one of the most impressive players in the Championship this season on the south coast, coming to life under Tonda Eckert and proving that he's been worth every penny of the reported £7.8 million that the Saints paid for him this past summer.

Some German fans, and even some in England, were quite surprised that Scienza's switch didn't land him in the Premier League, as his heroics at Bundesliga side Heidenheim last season, scoring and assisting in the relegation play-off to keep them in the top flight, arguably warranted it.

However, six goals and eight assists in the Championship this season at St Mary's have made those in the Premier League stand up and take notice of the 27-year-old.

And a Man of the Match performance in Southampton's FA Cup upset against Arsenal has intensified that interest even further.

Premier League sides swarm Southampton with Leo Sceinza interest

Scienza had missed the final three games before the March international break with a groin injury, so to come back for his first game in a month against the current Premier League leaders and put in a stellar performance was more than impressive.

In the wake of it, ESPN in Brazil are reporting that Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Fulham, Everton and Leeds United, alongside other top European clubs, have been monitoring the Brazilian and have sent scouts to St Mary's to track his progress.

The report also states that Scienza is open to a top-flight move this summer after spending just one year in the Championship.

No player in the second tier has created more big chances this season than the Brazilian, and he's level with Gustavo Hamer and Mikey Johnston at the top of the expected assists per game ranks, too.

Clearly, his chance-creating abilities have gotten Premier League clubs excited, and an electric performance against the best club in the top flight has proven that he'd be able to translate that to a higher level next season.

Southampton must secure promotion this season to stand a chance of keeping Leo Scienza

Scienza will be a Premier League player, or at least back in a European top-flight next season, as he's proven countless times this year that he is too good for the Championship, and that puts even more onus on Southampton to get over the line and secure an immediate Premier League return.

The Saints laid down a statement on Tuesday night, winning 5-1 away at their nearest top-six rivals, Wrexham, to leapfrog them into the play-offs.

With a game in hand on Phil Parkinson's side, they're in the driver's seat for a play-off place, and may have eyes on gatecrashing the automatic promotion party between now and the end of the season if they can keep up this impressive form.

And Southampton fans will be hoping that they can do that, or at the very least, maintain that form en route to a second Wembley triumph in as many play-off finals, to secure a Premier League return, as that would ease concerns about the departures of some of their best players.

If the Saints can offer their current squad top-flight football next season, then there would be little to worry about, and if their performance against Arsenal is anything to go by, Tonda Eckert's side could find themselves staying up comfortably, too.