Tottenham and Aston Villa are both being linked with Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis after another hugely productive season from the Greek international.
The 27-year-old ended the campaign with 30 goals and five assists in all competitions. This includes the winner against rivals Sporting in the Portuguese Super Cup final.
More importantly, he has now managed 60 goals in 110 matches since arriving from AZ Alkmaar for €18m (£15.2m) two years ago.
His consistency across two campaigns has made him one of Benfica’s biggest assets heading into the summer window. Those numbers are now starting to echo loudly around Europe.
That is where Tottenham and Villa enter the picture.
Premier League interest growing
According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, both Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on Pavlidis. At the same time, AC Milan and AS Roma in Italy are also interested.
The report adds there has still been no formal offer placed on Benfica president Rui Costa’s desk. At this stage, the situation is more about growing interest than advanced negotiations.
Still, the links are understandable from an English perspective.
Tottenham have tried to rely on Dominic Solanke and Richarlison in the past two seasons, unsucessfully. Due to various reasons, neither have effectively took over the starting spot.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are preparing for another demanding season under Unai Emery. Ollie Watkins continues to attract attention, Tammy Abraham lacked consistency, and Villa will need stronger rotation options as they prepare for another season balancing Premier League and European football.
Why the interest
Vangelis Pavlidis is a modern striker known for his presence, link-up play and finishing ability.
Often compared to Karim Benzema, the Benfica forward regularly drops deep to connect attacks, create space and involve teammates rather than simply staying inside the box.
At 1.86m, 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, has impeccable heading and is highly effective inside the penalty area.
His close control in tight spaces is one of the weaker aspects of his game, though.
Alongside his goalscoring record, he also stands out for his vision and ability to create chances for others.
Benfica open to major sale
Vangelis Pavlidis turns 28 next season, and O Jogo explains Benfica may now view this summer as the ideal moment to consider a sale.
The Portuguese side are already planning for a significant rebuild. They are also waiting to see whether Real Madrid will activate the clause needed to take José Mourinho away from Lisbon. Such a move would further shake up preparations for next season.
Because of that, Benfica are expected to be open to negotiations for some of their biggest names if the numbers make sense.
However, Pavlidis will not come cheap. Benfica paid €18m (£15.2m) for him and would only consider a sizeable offer.
For now, Tottenham and Aston Villa remain in the watching stage. The admiration is there, but Benfica are still waiting for somebody to make the first real move.