tottenham And Aston Villa The two are being linked with Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis after another extremely productive season for the Greek international.
The 27-year-old finished the campaign with 30 goals and five assists in all competitions. This also includes the winner in the Portuguese Super Cup final against rivals Sporting.
More importantly, he has scored 60 goals in 110 appearances since arriving from AZ Alkmaar for €18m (£15.2m) two years ago.
His consistency across the two campaigns has made him one of Benfica's biggest assets in the summer window. Those numbers are now echoing loudly across Europe.
This is where Tottenham and Villa enter the picture.
Interest in Premier League is increasing
According to Portuguese newspaper gameBoth Premier League clubs are keeping a close eye on Pavlidis. Meanwhile, AC Milan and AS Roma in Italy are also interested.
The report adds that no formal proposal has yet been put on the desk of Benfica president Rui Costa. At this stage, the situation is more about growing interest than advanced negotiations.
Nevertheless, the links make sense from an English perspective.
Tottenham have tried unsuccessfully to rely on Dominic Solanke and Richarlison over the past two seasons. For various reasons, neither of them have effectively occupied the starting spot.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are preparing for another demanding season under Unai Emery. Ollie Watkins continues to attract attention, Tammy Abraham lacks consistency, and Villa will need strong rotation options as they prepare for another season balancing Premier League and European football.
Why interest?
Vangelis Pavlidis is a modern striker known for his presence of mind, link-up play and finishing ability.
Often compared to Karim Benzema, the Benfica forward regularly drops deep to link attacks, create space and involve teammates rather than staying inside the box.
At 1.86 m, he combines physical strength with agility, protects the ball well and is dangerous in one-on-one situations. Pavlidis is also a clinical finisher with both feet, his heading is impeccable and highly effective inside the penalty area.
However, his close control in tight spaces is one of the weak aspects of his game.
As well as his goalscoring record, he is also known for his vision and ability to create chances for others.
Benfica is open to major sales
Vangelis Pavlidis will turn 28 next season, and O Jogo points out that Benfica could now see this summer as the ideal moment to consider a sale.
The Portuguese side are already planning a significant reconstruction. They are also waiting to see if Real Madrid will activate the clause required to lure Jose Mourinho away from Lisbon. Such a move will further blow the preparations for the next season.
Because of this, it is expected that Benfica will be willing to negotiate for some of their biggest names if the numbers make sense.
However, Pavlidis won't come cheap. Benfica paid €18m (£15.2m) for him and will only consider a bigger offer.
For now, Tottenham and Aston Villa remain in the monitoring phase. The praise is there, but Benfica are still waiting for someone to make the first real steps.
