Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a swoop to sign prolific Greek international centre-forward Vangelis Pavlidis from Benfica, according to CaughtOffside.
The 27-year-old has been one of the most consistently prolific centre-forwards in Portugal in recent seasons. He came through the ranks at the VfL Bochum academy and recorded remarkable strides, particularly with the U19, where he provided 33 goal contributions in 45 games.
However, he was not given many first-team opportunities and was sent on loan to Borussia Dortmund II and Willem, who signed him permanently after a three-season loan move.
It was in the Netherlands where he began recreating the goalscoring prowess he was known for at the Bochum academy, netting 33 goals and providing 14 assists in 82 games for Willem before scoring 80 goals in a separate spell for AZ Alkmaar.
His prolific form led to keen interest in his signature before Benfica trumped other rivals to sign him, and he has since become one of the most coveted forwards in Europe, leading former Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Dutch international centre-forward Wim Kieft to describe him as a ‘fantastic target man’.
In the ongoing campaign, Pavlidis has been involved in 17 goal contributions in 13 games and is on course to win the Primeira Liga top scorer title after missing out last season to Sporting CP’s Luis Suarez
Now, according to CaughtOffside, Pavlidis’s prolific form this season has increased the interest of several top clubs across Europe.
Prolific forward
One of the clubs looking to sign him is Tottenham, according to the report, which claims that the North Londoners have been scouting the 27-year-old.
The report adds that Roberto De Zerbi’s side have made signing a new centre-forward their ‘top priority’ in the January transfer window, with Pavlidis now being targeted.
While the Greece international is open to a Premier League move, Tottenham will have to battle several rivals, including Aston Villa and Fulham, as well as Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus, CaughtOffside adds.
However, Spurs will have to wait until the summer to begin concrete talks, as Benfica are not open to his departure in January and have placed an £84m release clause in his contract, as per the report.
Tottenham have had a disastrous start to the current campaign, where they currently sit at the bottom of the table, having failed to win any games.
Spurs will have the chance to record their first win when they face Manchester United, and De Zerbi will hope his current centre-forward options will be at their prolific best at Old Trafford on Saturday.
