Aston Villa are opening early talks over the Brazilian’s contract amid Europa League triumph

Aston Villa have held early talks over the signing of the Brazilian striker as Unai Emery’s side also continue to celebrate their triumph in Europe.

Villa lift the Europa League as Emery closes another one

30 years. That’s when Aston Villa waited for the big trophy, and when it arrived it arrived in style.

The 3-0 demolition of Freiburg in Istanbul on Wednesday night wasn’t just a victory – it was a statement.

Youri Tielemans opened the scoring with a stunning volley before the break, Emiliano Buendia curled in a second after that, and Morgan Rogers added a third just before the hour mark to put the game beyond doubt.

Unai Emery, the man who has won the Europa League five times, stood on the touchline at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium and allowed himself to smile. His project at Villa Park has brought silverware, and there is more to come.

Champions League qualification was already wrapped up before the final, courtesy of a 4-2 demolition of Liverpool on Friday night at Villa Park.

That result moved Villa into fourth place with 62 points and a game to spare and made the final day’s game at Man City a celebration rather than a pressure cooker.

Double success – Champions League football and the European Cup in the same week – is the kind of season that changes the trajectory of a team.

Emery will not stop. The squad needs to be strengthened if Villa are to compete in more competitions next season, and the recruitment team has been active for weeks.

As we’ve already reported, Villa are pushing hard for Roman winger Matias Soule and have been heavily linked with a move for Marcus Rashford, whose status at Barcelona has yet to be resolved.

Emiliano Martínez’s goalkeeper saga is also raging, with Liverpool circling and Villa eyeing Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes and RC Lens’ Robin Risser as potential long-term replacements.

Now, another principle entered the discussion.

Aston Villa have held early talks over a deal for Southampton’s Leo Scienza

According to SportsBoom, Villa have opened early talks over a potential move for Southampton striker Leo Scienza.

SportsBoom reports that Villa’s interest has progressed beyond simple enquiries.

The club have already moved for the 27-year-old, who arrived at St Mary’s from Bundesliga side Heidenheim for around £8m in September and has established himself as one of the most creative attacking players outside the Premier League.

Eight goals and 10 assists in 44 games in all competitions earned him Southampton’s player of the season as voted for by his club, while his performances in the FA Cup – including a stunning display that helped knock Arsenal out of the competition – have prompted a growing number of top clubs to consider him a target.

Southampton have placed an intrinsic value of around £26m on their ‘class’ player, although a release clause thought to be worth around £21m could ease negotiations for any serious suitor.

The spygate scandal that engulfed the club this week – which led to their dismissal from the Championship final – has all but ensured another season in the second tier, and that changes the equation completely.

A player of Scienza’s quality and ambition is unlikely to accept a second year in the Championship when the Premier League comes around.

Villa is not alone, however.

Tottenham, Everton, Roma and Atalanta have all been tracking the Brazilian, while several clubs from his home country have also been linked with him.

That being said, Scienza is understood to be keen on staying in Europe, and Villa’s ability to offer top-class continental football, a proven development ground under Emery, and a team that is genuinely competitive at the end of the English game gives them a strong argument that few rivals can match.