Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has identified potential summer signings amid their battle to avoid relegation.
Spurs are looking at the most important game of the season against Everton
There is nothing complicated about Sunday’s equation for Tottenham.
One point against Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and they stay top. They lost, and need West Ham to drop points against Leeds to avoid the most embarrassing relegation in Premier League history.
De Zerbi’s side are two points adrift of the Hammers, and while goal difference provides an important safety net, no-one in the building is taking anything for granted as a real nerve-wracking machine.
Everton, with nothing to play for but professional pride, are the type of foe Spurs could use.
However, this season has taught everyone at the club that nothing comes easy.
Enzo Fernandez tells Chelsea to sign the Tottenham star amid talks over a new deal
Argentina is a big fan.
The 2-1 defeat at Chelsea was a missed opportunity for the Lilywhites to secure their survival, and while De Zerbi has turned things around since arriving in late March, the job is far from done until the final whistle 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 never been close, and early indications are that he has started to put together a list of potential players.
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi targets Southampton star Leo Scienza
Another name that has come up quietly is Leo Scienza.
According to SportsBoom, the Tottenham boss has added the Southampton striker 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 in all competitions and was voted Southampton’s Player of the Season by his teammates.
His defining moment came in the FA Cup, when he produced a show of the game to help the Saints knock Arsenal out of the competition.
Scienza joined Southampton from Heidenheim in the Bundesliga last September and is tied to a long-term contract until 2029.
SportsBoom say Southampton’s in-house fee is believed to sit at around £25m, although 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 dismissal from the Championship final on Tuesday – after being found guilty of tampering with opponents’ training sessions on three separate occasions this season – means the club will remain in the second tier next year.
That fact has greatly weakened their ability to retain their best players.
Scienza is 27 years old and in his prime. He wants to play at a high level. Staying in the Championship for the second season in a row is unlikely to appeal.
Everton and Roma are also monitoring the situation, while Atalanta and several Brazilian clubs have made enquiries.
The likes of Scienza are understood to be a move into European football, with the Premier League a very attractive destination.
At Spurs, a versatile, technically gifted wide player who can operate across the front line and has proven he can perform on the big occasion would be a valuable addition.
But first things first, on Sunday. Then the reconstruction can begin.
De Zerbi to target Tottenham for £35m Serie A star in days
Spurs are planning a move to sign an “unbelievable” player.
