Benfica ready to close Pavlidis move

Benfica are hoping that their deal with AZ Alkmaar for striker Vangelis Pavlidis will close this week as the club looks to improve their striking options for next season. Benfica are Alkmaar are said to have agreed on a deal for €18M with €2M in addons for the 25 year old Greek International.

Benfica are hoping that Pavlidis will solve a glaring issue the club battled with last season and that was getting regular goals from their number nine. Look for Benfica to move on from Arthur Cabral during the summer as the club will retain Marcos Leonardo to back up Pavlidis while the status of Casper Tengstedt should be decided shortly.

Benfica linked with Lyon left back Tagliafico

Benfica are looking for an additional left back after signing Alvaro Fernandez permanently from Manchester United just a few weeks ago, as the club looks for a player to provide a friendly competition internally for a place in the starting XI. 

Lyon left back Nicolas Tagliafico is the name being mentioned in Portugal as an apparent target for Benfica this summer, as it looks to strengthen one of their weaker positions last season. 

The 31 year old Tagliafico has been with Lyon for two seasons after spending the previous four with Dutch side Ajax. Tagliafico appeared in 31 games across all competitions last season, scoring three goals while providing two helpers.

Tagliafico has one more season left on his contract with Lyon and his price tag should be in the modest €8M to €10M range. The Argentinian international will be participating in this summer's edition of the Copa America and was a member of Argentina's World Cup winning squad.

Benfica will make Pavlidis first summer signing

Benfica look to have landed their first signing of the summer transfer window, according to reports out of Portugal, as the club and Dutch side AZ  Alkmaar are said to have come to an agreement to move Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis to Lisbon.

The terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, but it is unlikely that Benfica paid anything less than €20M for the 25 year old striker's signature. Pavlidis scored 33 goals last season across all competitions, which was more than Benfica's strikers combined during the same span.

Pavlidis will be announced once he returns from a short vacation and should hopefully solve a major issue that the club faced last season, finding goals from their starting #9. Benfica and Pavlidis have already agreed on contract terms.

The arrival of Pavlidis should mean the departure of Arthur Cabral, last season's failed summer signing who was acquired at a cost of €20M to the club. Cabral never really did seem to find his groove with the club and Benfica will be looking at all options to move on from the striker.