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Chelsea are being linked with a summer move for Vangelis Pavlidis, with the Benfica striker emerging as a possible option if the club decide to add a more experienced centre-forward to their attack.
The Greek international has been in outstanding form in Portugal and has become one of the most reliable goalscorers outside Europe's top five leagues. Chelsea have spent heavily on young attacking talent in recent windows, but Pavlidis would offer something slightly different. At 27, he is in his prime, physically mature and already proven as a consistent finisher across multiple seasons.
His numbers explain why clubs are paying attention. Pavlidis has scored around 22 league goals for Benfica this season, while also adding four assists. Across all competitions, his overall output is even stronger, with more than 30 goal contributions. That follows his prolific spell at AZ Alkmaar, where he established himself as one of the best forwards in the Eredivisie before earning his move to Lisbon.
Chelsea's interest makes sense because the squad still needs reliable goals. They have talented forwards, but the club have often lacked a ruthless penalty-box striker who can turn pressure into results. Pavlidis is not just a poacher, either. He can link play, press defenders, attack crosses and finish with either foot. That all-round profile would appeal to a side that creates chances but does not always kill games early enough.
The difficulty is Benfica. They do not want to lose him cheaply and have reportedly viewed him as almost untouchable unless a major offer arrives. Pavlidis has a release clause believed to be around €100m, although Chelsea would likely try to negotiate below that figure if they make a serious approach. A realistic transfer package could still need to be in the region of €50m to €70m, especially given his form and contract situation.
Chelsea are not the only club watching. Newcastle have also been linked, particularly as they continue to assess forward options for the future. Manchester United have been mentioned in some reports too, while clubs from Italy and Germany are likely to monitor any striker producing Pavlidis' numbers.
Written by Ketan Patel
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