Exclusive: Newcastle and Premier League Rivals Target Record-Breaking Striker Matching Isak’s Goal Tally

Strikers are expected to be highly sought after in the upcoming summer transfer window, with clubs such as Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Fulham, and Everton all likely to bolster their attacking departments.

Newcastle may allow Callum Wilson to leave once his contract expires, while Forest currently have only two strikers on their books.

West Ham are also in the market for more firepower up front.

Similarly, Fulham and Everton are not especially well-stocked in the striker department, which could lead to significant competition for a prolific forward like Vangelis Pavlidis, who has been one of the standout attacking talents in Portugal this season.

Despite this growing interest, TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey reports that Benfica are determined to keep hold of Pavlidis and have no intention of selling him this summer.

Multiple Premier League clubs are once again tracking the 26-year-old, who has emerged as one of Europe’s most reliable goal-scorers in recent years.

Pavlidis has scored in double figures for six consecutive seasons, including the current campaign, in which he has found the net 24 times across all competitions.

That tally matches the current goal count of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.

Notably, Pavlidis made history by becoming the first Benfica player to score a hat-trick at the Estádio do Dragão in a 4-1 victory over Porto.

Having joined Benfica last summer for €20 million (£17 million), Pavlidis was already on the radar of several English clubs, many of whom had conducted extensive scouting reports before he made the move to Portugal.

Interest in the striker has resurfaced, with Newcastle, Forest, West Ham, Fulham, and Everton all monitoring his performances closely.

Nevertheless, sources within Benfica have indicated to TBR Football that the club will not entertain offers below his release clause, which is set at approximately £80 million.

Now at the peak age of 26, Pavlidis is seen as a player ready to take on the challenges of the Premier League.

According to scouting platform Breaking the Lines, he is a “prolific goal-scorer” with impressive ball control, intelligent positioning, and outstanding shooting precision.

FBRef compares Pavlidis stylistically to players such as Lautaro Martinez, Nicolas Jackson, Hugo Ekitike, Harry Kane, Omar Marmoush, and Alexander Isak – underlining his potential to thrive in English football.