€100m striker battle! Tottenham chase a goal machine as Barcelona enter the race
A €100 million transfer battle is brewing around one of Europe's most prolific strikers.
Details: According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham have made signing a new centre-forward one of their main priorities for January and are extensively scouting Benfica's 27-year-old Greek international Vangelis Pavlidis. The striker has enjoyed a sensational start to the season, scoring 14 goals in just 13 appearances across all competitions.
However, Tottenham face fierce competition for the Greek striker. Aston Villa and Fulham have also been monitoring Pavlidis for some time, while Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus are keeping a close eye on his performances.
The biggest obstacle remains Benfica's position. The Portuguese giants have no intention of selling their leading forward midway through the season and have protected him with a staggering €100 million release clause.
At this stage, no official negotiations or offers have been reported. Pavlidis is understood to be open to a Premier League move, although Barcelona could prove an especially attractive destination. A summer transfer currently appears more realistic than a January deal.
It is worth noting that Pavlidis scored 30 goals in all competitions for Benfica last season. Remarkably, the Greek international also reached the 30-goal mark in the campaign before that.
Reminder: Perfect for England! Chelsea, Tottenham and Brighton have launched a hunt for a powerful La Liga striker
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
