The football world is always on the lookout for the new hot centre forward.
Clubs want natural goal scorers who can find the net consistently and bring strategic intelligence, physicality, and creativity to the table.
While some of the big names are reserved only for the rich clubs, there are always hidden gems that rise from the dirt to capture the spotlight.
One of those shining examples and potential stars at the centre forward is SL Benfica’s Greek attacking midfielder/forward Vangelis Pavlidis.
Who Is Vangelis Pavlidis?
Vangelis Pavlidis is a 1.86 cm centre forward from Greece who started his football career in Bebides 2000 and quickly moved to VfL Bochum’s young team.
He debuted as a senior in 2016 and was loaned to Dortmund II, where he played in 32 games and scored 7 goals.
After finding his way to the Dutch first division, he showed good potential at Willem II, but he really shone at AZ Alkmaar, where he scored 57 goals in 92 appearances.
He moved to Benfica in 2024 and had a rough start but eventually adjusted, finishing the season with 19 goals and 7 assists in just 27 appearances.
His excellent form continued in international competitions as Pavlidis scored against Bulgaria.
Many people ruled him out early on and called him a bust, but since his stellar performance, football fans are getting on board, and clubs are taking notice.
The Allure Of Vangelis Pavlidis
The last football season missed some standout performers and examples of pure offensive brilliance.
Apart from Osimhen, Gyökeres, and Šeško, there’s not much to be mentioned.
The Premier League is hungry for strikers to lead the way.
At the same time, the game is slowly moving away from traditional all-out forwards.
Arsenal, Liverpool, and PSG have proven that it’s possible to play forwards at striker positions who can complement the offence with their skills and creativity, not just typical goal-scoring.
Pavlidis is a perfect combination of a bull-headed, fierce, and technically capable striker.
It’s really strange how so many teams missed out on him.
Although he has a clause worth €100 million, his current value is estimated to be around €30 million.
In other words, he’s much cheaper than Osimhen, a more rounded player than Šeško, and younger than Gyökeres.
Vangelis Pavlidis Heat Map
Although Pavlidis is powerful and capable, and defenders find it challenging to dispossess him, he also possesses a cerebral side to his game.
That’s why coaches have put him in different positions and not just the centre forward.
For example, Benfica’s manager, Bruno Lage, often used deep pressure when facing technically superior teams.
This means that Pavlidis had to go to a deeper position to play defence and move the ball over the half.
As a result, he was in the 85th percentile of strikers with touches in the midfield.
At the same time, he was in the 86th percentile for tackled dribbles, with a success rate of around 50%.
That’s why his gameplay and robust frame are ideal for the EPL, as well as other major leagues.
Some of the clubs that could benefit from his acquisition are Manchester United, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham.
Big Time Striker For A Low Price
Pavlidis stands out as an affordable potential star with his combination of intelligence, skill, and size.
He can influence the game in different ways, but also fill the net if needed.
No wonder his recent breakout has generated interest from many EPL clubs and those in other European leagues.
His time on the sidelines has passed, and any club that can secure him now will likely rise in the future, or at least make a good investment for future trades.
