Southampton and Heidenheim set to complete Leo Scienza deal

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Kicker reports that Southampton and FC Heidenheim are close to wrapping the deal that will see attacker Leo Scienza move to St. Mary’s. The German magazine notes that the EFL Championship outfit has agreed to the Bundesliga club’s asking price of around €8m. Scienza will move to the English second division after just a little over a year in the German top flight. 

The two sides were thought to be close to agreeing to terms before, but the fact that Scienza still featured in the Heidenheim XI against RB Leipzig this weekend suggested that the move might actually not happen. Scienza went the full 90 minutes against the German Red Bulls in the 2-0 away loss. 

With a little over 24 hours left before the summer transfer window closes, however, there remains enough time for the Brazilian to fly to the Isle and complete his medical. Heidenheim will be happy to turn a handsome profit on the player they paid only €600,000 to acquire from Ulm last summer. 

If bonuses push the €8m Scienza sale higher, Heidenheim will set a new outgoing transfer record. Jan Niklas Beste (€8m to Benfica last summer) constituted FCH’s highest ever sale. Even the sale of Tim Kleindienst to Borussia Mönchengladbach (€7m) was lower.

GGFN | Peter Weis