Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur are battling Barcelona for a centre-forward who has been on fire in front of goal for Benfica at the start of the season.
It appears that a couple of Benfica forwards have caught the eye of the Lilywhites ahead of the January window.
It has been widely reported that Spurs are one of several Premier League clubs chasing winger Gianluca Prestianni, whose impressive form for the Portuguese club has seen him break into the Argentina side.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are also thought to have been impressed by Prestianni’s Benfica teammate, who has been banging in goals for fun this season.
Tottenham target Vangelis Pavlidis
Photo by FILIPE AMORIM / AFP via Getty Images
Tottenham battling Barcelona for Vangelis Pavlidis
Over recent weeks, some sources have reported that Spurs have been impressed by Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis as they go in search of a new number nine ahead of January.
This has now been backed up by CaughtOffside’s The Daily Briefing, which says that the centre-forward’s list of admirers is growing after his outstanding start to the season, which has seen him score 14 goals in 13 appearances.
It is revealed that Spurs have watched the 27-year-old multiple times this season and are considering whether to make a formal approach.
However, they face competition from Barcelona, who have identified Pavlidis as the ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who left the club at the end of last season.
Why Spurs may have one advantage in the race for Pavlidis
According to a previous update by A Bola, the 27-year-old Spurs target is also on the wishlist of AC Milan and Aston Villa, who are searching for a new number nine.
The same update claimed that while Pavlidis is protected by a €100m (£85m) release clause, Benfica would be ready to sell him for around €40m (£34m).
According to a recent update from Portugal, the Greek international has always dreamed of playing in the Premier League, which is why Tottenham may have an advantage over the Catalan club in the race.