Chelsea plotting shock transfer move to beat Barcelona to £87m striker

Chelsea are preparing a possible move to sign Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis this summer.

The Blues have identified centre-forward as a priority for the upcoming transfer window, with Nicolas Jackson blowing hot and cold across his two opening years in west London.

Christopher Nkunku has also flattered to deceive since arriving from RB Leipzig and could be set for the exit door at Stamford Bridge, along with Joao Felix, who has failed to make an impact on loan at AC Milan.

Despite a recent slump in form, Cole Palmer is Chelsea’s top scorer in the Premier League with 14 goals this season and Enzo Maresca is desperate to add some much-needed firepower to his attack to support the England international.

According to Portuguese outlet Record, Chelsea have been alerted to Pavlidis’ goalscoring exploits at Benfica and view the 26-year-old as a player who could compete with Jackson up front.

Pavlidis has established himself as one of the top attacking talents in Portuguese football across an eye-catching debut campaign with Benfica, in which he has managed 24 goals in all competitions.

However, Chelsea are likely to face stiff competition from Newcastle, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid if they are to step up their pursuit of Pavlidis over the coming weeks and months.

The Blues also recognise that Pavlidis will not come cheap given the Greece international has a staggering €100million (£87m) release clause and Benfica are in no hurry to part with their prized possession.

It’s understood Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen, Hugo Ekitike and Jonathan David are the other strikers on Chelsea’s transfer shortlist for the summer.

The report claims Newcastle have identified Pavlidis as a possible replacement for Alexander Isak should they lose their talismanic forward ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Pavlidis’ current contract with Benfica runs through to 2029.

Last weekend, Pavlidis entered the history books as he became the first Benfica player ever to score a hat-trick away to Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.

Only Rui Aguas (1987) and Pizzi (2011) have scored three times for Benfica in a single match against Porto – but these hat-tricks were both completed on home soil.

‘It was a very special day for me, but also for the whole team,’ Pavlidis said after Benfica’s 4-1 win over their rivals.

‘We played very well. Was this a dream night for me? Yes, you could say that.’

Benfica head coach Bruno Lage commended Pavlidis on his ‘importance’ to the team, but insisted his side’s victory was ultimately down to the togetherness within the squad.

‘He has done a lot of important work for us,’ Lage told reporters.

‘It is important to have men who score a lot of goals, but in the end, this was mainly a real team effort.’

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