Tottenham and Aston Villa target Vangelis Pavlidis

Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are both monitoring Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Greek forward having scored 30 goals across all competitions this season to establish himself as one of the most sought-after strikers available in Europe, according to journalist Sebastian Vidal.

The 27-year-old remains under contract at Benfica until 2029, which means the Portuguese club are in a strong negotiating position and are likely to demand a significant fee for a player who has been central to their domestic and European campaigns this season. Interest from Tottenham and Aston Villa is not the only pressure Benfica face, with reports also indicating that clubs from Italy are monitoring Pavlidis’s situation.

For both Premier League clubs, the appeal is straightforward. A 30-goal striker in his prime who has been proven in European competition is exactly the profile that Unai Emery and Roberto De Zerbi are looking to add to their respective squads this summer.

Why Vangelis Pavlidis suits Tottenham’s summer rebuild

Tottenham’s primary focus at this stage of the season remains on securing their Premier League status, with survival the prerequisite for any significant summer spending. If De Zerbi’s side stay up, a major rebuild is planned, and a new striker is considered central to that project. Pavlidis has also been linked to Serhou Guirassy as another option in that position, suggesting the club are casting a wide net in their search for attacking reinforcement. A 30-goal striker under the age of 30 fits the profile De Zerbi would want to build around.

Why Vangelis Pavlidis makes sense for Aston Villa

Aston Villa have also been linked with Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush as Emery looks to add competition and quality in the centre-forward position ahead of a campaign that will again include European football. Pavlidis would give Villa a different option: a proven goalscorer in his prime who has demonstrated the consistent output in a major European league that Emery demands from his attackers.

Whether either club is prepared to meet Benfica’s asking price will be the defining question as the summer window approaches. The 30-goal return this season only strengthens the Portuguese side’s hand in any negotiation, and with Italian suitors also in the mix, the competition for Pavlidis’s signature is only likely to intensify before any deal is agreed.