The £34m January striker deal which could solve Spurs’ scoring problems – but won’t be easy to pull off

Once again, Tottenham Hotspur seem to be stuck in the mire. Their performance against Manchester United last weekend hinted at improvement, but the result was no better – and once again, Spurs looked largely inept in front of goal.

In previous matches, one could blame the lack of service to Omar Marmoush or the fact that Dominic Solanke was injured, but until the latter scored his last-gasp equaliser at Old Trafford, Spurs lacked teeth. The opportunities that were created were spurned, and the need for some fresh blood up front appeared to grow. Despite a summer of heavy spending, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if they made some changes in the January transfer window.

One player that Spurs have been widely linked with in recent weeks is Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis, the Greek national team captain whose goalscoring feats in Portugal have ensured a regular place in the gossip columns. So can Spurs get their hands on Pavlidis in January – and would he really make any difference if they do?

Could Tottenham Hotspur sign Vangelis Pavlidis this January?

The rumours linking Spurs with Pavlidis date back to the summer, but they appear to have intensified considerably over the past couple of weeks – perhaps a media reaction to their slow start to the season and the fact that they didn’t score a single Premier League goal in their first four matches, but also perhaps a reflection of a growing desire to sign a new striker.

The stories seem to have started in the Portuguese press, with newspapers such as O Jogo and A Bola running stories about Pavlidis’ future, but have spread to the British rumour mill as well. Either Spurs are genuinely keen, or a very largely section of the media is getting distinctly overexcited.

Given that it’s three months until the next transfer window, details are admittedly scant, but it would scarcely be a shock if Spurs did make a move for a new attacking player if they continue to struggle up front. Draw a blank against Coventry City on Monday, and alarm bells will be sounding.

With so many stories but so little confirmed information, it’s difficult to parse out what a deal might look like – but Sport Witness summarised recent reports from the Portuguese press which suggest a likely asking price in the region of €40m (£34m) should a January sale take place. Given Pavlidis’ scoring record, that would be a very reasonable fee.

The difficulty for Spurs is twofold. Firstly, those same reports suggest that Benfica are leaning towards keeping hold of him, which is scarcely surprising given that he’s scored nine goals in his first 10 games this season. Secondly, Benfica almost certainly have the leverage to hold out for more if they think they can get it.

Pavlidis is under contract until 2029 and is protected by a massive €100m (£85m) release clause. That means that there is little chance that either Spurs or the player could twist their arm and force a sale – Spurs will have little negotiating room and if Benfica do decide not to sell, then there is little that can be done to rectify that.

Benfica remain a selling club, but they have played hardball with quite a few players in recent seasons, keeping hold of their assets for longer than they might have expected to in the past. Given their modern business model and Pavlidis’ contract, €40m seems optimistic.

A variety of sources agree that Spurs’ interest in Pavlidis is sincere, but there is every chance that he’s either temporarily out of reach or immensely expensive. The former scenario would force them to look elsewhere, the latter into their souls to see whether they’re willing to pay over market value once again, as they did for players like Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes over the summer.

The transfer budget is there in theory, at least, but Spurs have other players under observation and could decide that a different deal better meets their needs. But would that be true, given how many goals Pavlidis seems to guarantee?

Would Pavlidis be a worthwhile signing for Spurs?

Pavlidis’ record in senior football is remarkable, and the stats behind it just as impressive. The only surprise is that a bigger side than Benfica hasn’t taken a chance on him already.

Since making his breakthrough with Dutch side Willem II Tilburg, the 27-year-old Pavlidis has reached double figures in seven consecutive seasons and is already just one shy of making it eight in a row. In the Eredivisie, he scored 80 goals in 151 appearances for Willem II and AZ Alkmaar, and since signing for Benfica in 2024 he’s scored 75 goals in 125 games in all competitions.

In every season in which xG stats are available for his league, he has exceeded his expected goals total, a testament to his excellent finishing. He has nine Champions League goals for his current club, and another in the Europa League already this season – and while his scoring record for Greece is surprisingly unimpressive, he did score two of his 10 goals against England when they pulled off a surprise win at Wembley during Lee Carsley’s brief tenure as manager.

It goes almost without saying that his scoring record is far better than either Solanke’s or Marmoush’s not that either are any slouch historically, but he may also have a better all-round game, too. He’s a genuine creative force with 21 assists in barely more than two seasons for Benfica, and a fierce competitor in one-on-one situations who contributes significantly to his side’s high pressing game.

Solanke and Marmoush have their strengths, but also have weak spots and neither of them seem to be on form at the moment. They have time to find their shooting boots between now and the opening days of the January transfer window, but if they don’t then a player like Pavlidis may become a genuine priority.

If that happens, maybe Spurs will be willing to flex the chequebook one more time. After the draw with Manchester United, you can squint and see the bones of a functional team with a solid defence and a combative midfield. You just can’t see where the goals are coming from. Pavlidis seems to be as likely a source as any, although much could change between now and January.