Benfica will only consider selling Vangelis Pavlidis to Barcelona for an exceptional offer

Benfica have made it clear that Vangelis Pavlidis will only be allowed to leave if Barcelona submit an offer the Portuguese club considers impossible to reject.

Barcelona are continuing to look for a centre-forward during the final month of the summer transfer window, with Pavlidis emerging as one of the alternatives to their preferred target, Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid.

The Spanish club’s pursuit of Alvarez has become more complicated after Atletico de Madrid adopted a forceful stance against Barcelona and filed an official complaint with FIFA alleging harassment. That development has encouraged Barcelona to examine other possibilities, including the 27-year-old Greece international Pavlidis.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Benfica’s current position is that Pavlidis is not for sale. The club’s hierarchy are not actively considering his departure and would only change their view if an offer of exceptional value arrived.

The report added that, until the end of July, Benfica had not received a formal proposal for their leading goalscorer. Benfica are Portugal’s most decorated club, but their firm position comes at a time when Barcelona are attempting to settle their options for the centre-forward position before the transfer window closes.

Pavlidis is also understood to have had concerns about Benfica’s intentions. Portuguese newspaper A Bola, which is regarded as being close to the club, reported that the striker went away on holiday feeling deeply worried and frustrated.

He reportedly feared the club wanted to sell him in order to compensate for the financial consequences of failing to qualify for the Champions League. Those concerns were heightened by a difficult spell in front of goal, during which Pavlidis scored only three times between February and May.

His situation has changed significantly in recent days, however. Pavlidis scored four goals in the qualifying round of the Europa League, providing a sharp response after that earlier period without regular goals.

That form could strengthen his importance to Benfica, even as Barcelona continue to assess whether to pursue him as an alternative to Alvarez. Any approach from the Catalan club would therefore have to meet the high standard set by Benfica before the Portuguese side would consider negotiations.

Juventus also made enquiries about Pavlidis during the transfer window. Benfica were said to be seeking €40m for the striker, a valuation that prompted the Italian club to step back from completing a deal.

The previous interest from Juventus underlines the level of demand surrounding Pavlidis, but there is no indication that Benfica are prepared to lower their expectations. For now, the club’s stance leaves Barcelona needing to decide whether to make the kind of proposal that could persuade Benfica to part with their forward.