Aston Villa could face competition from Tottenham Hotspur for Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who reportedly wants to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League. According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, via Sport Witness , the Greek international remains interested in English football and would welcome an opportunity to leave Lisbon if Benfica approve his departure.

Pavlidis hasn’t forced an exit, though. The 27-year-old continues to perform professionally for Benfica, but his preference for a Premier League move could become relevant if an interested club submits an acceptable offer.

Benfica previously placed a €40 million valuation on the forward despite his €100 million release clause. Several major European clubs explored opportunities during the previous transfer window, including Barcelona , AC Milan, Juventus and Beşiktaş. However, those approaches failed to produce an agreement.

Marco Silva considered Pavlidis an important part of his plans and made retaining the striker a priority. Consequently, Benfica refused to sanction his departure despite interest from several established European sides.

His performances explain that resistance. Pavlidis registered 30 goals during his previous campaign and has already recorded 14 goals and three assists this season. Those numbers give interested clubs a clear indication of his finishing ability and attacking contribution.

Tottenham’s interest could develop into something more concrete. A Spurs scout reportedly watched him during Benfica’s meeting with FC Porto, suggesting that the London club continues to assess his performances.

LISBON, PORTUGAL – JULY 30: Vangelis Pavlidis of SL Benfica in action during the UEFA Europa League Qualifier match between SL Benfica and St. Gallen at Estadio da Luz on July 30, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Aston Villa have several attacking options, including Nicolas Jackson, Tammy Abraham and young Brian Madjo. That competition could discourage Unai Emery from pursuing another centre-forward, particularly if his existing players remain available.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Should Aston Villa Hijack Tottenham’s Transfer Plans For This €40m Rated Striker?" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Transfer Wire metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

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