As per the latest transfer news, Chelsea are watching Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni. Tottenham and Aston Villa are also tracking the Argentine after his fast start this season. Benfica want to tie him to a new deal before any rival makes a move.
Five English clubs keep watching Gianluca Prestianni
As reported by TEAMtalk, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, Manchester United and Brighton have each checked on Prestianni this season. Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are also linked. Villa and Tottenham sent scouts to the Porto game, where he set up Benfica’s only goal. No club has made a formal approach yet, so the interest is still at an early stage. Recruiters want to see if the winger can handle the pace and physical side of English football. Several of these clubs first noticed him at Velez Sarsfield, where he stood out as a teenager.
Benfica paid a reported €9.5 million for him in January 2024, and his value has soared since then. Transfermarkt raised the winger’s valuation from €20 million to €40 million this week. His deal runs until 2029 and carries a release clause of €100 million, about £87 million. That price should keep most Premier League buyers away for now, even clubs with deep pockets. Villa would need to break their transfer record to pay it.
Prestianni’s 2026/27 stats for Benfica so far, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Matches Goals Assists Chances created Duels won(%)
Liga Portugal 7 5 3 17 64.4%
Europa League 1 0 0 – –
Benfica want to reward his progress
Benfica have opened talks over a new contract to recognise his rapid rise. Reports say the deal would run to 2030-31 with a big pay rise, and the release clause would stay. No agreement has been reached yet. Manager Marco Silva has praised his attitude, saying the winger worked “in an exemplary way from the first day”. His steady training habits matter as much as the goals, because they show real maturity. The praise carries weight at a club that considered loaning him out in 2025. Since then he has become a key attacker and leads the Primeira Liga for shots, dribbles and fouls won.
Gianluca Prestianni also played 56 minutes for Argentina in the 4-0 win over Bolivia. He has scored eight goals and set up three more in 12 games across all competitions. That is 11 goal involvements in 12 matches, after only three goals in 41 games last season. Silva has used him mostly on the left this season and through the middle lately. That flexibility gives a coach several ways to use one player.
Will Chelsea make a move for Prestianni?
For now, Chelsea look more likely to watch than to bid, and that seems the wise approach. Paying near the full clause for a player on a short run of form would be a gamble. Footballtransfers says a move is unlikely unless Chelsea sell Jamie Gittens next summer. Morgan Rogers and Geovany Quenda are also options on the left flank at Stamford Bridge. The club’s priority is defenders and central midfielders. Even so, scouts are tracking him now, and that gives the club a head start if plans change.
Prestianni’s past will also be checked. UEFA gave him a six-match ban in April for homophobic conduct toward Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. Clubs will weigh that carefully. Any deal will depend on his form, his price and Chelsea’s real needs. Spurs and Villa have January in mind, but a Chelsea bid looks more realistic next summer.
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