Aston Villa have sent scouts to watch Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni. The 20-year-old Argentine was observed during Benfica's 3-1 defeat to Porto last week, where he provided an assist, and Villa representatives are expected to monitor his performances for Argentina during the current international break.
Villa, who currently sit 16th in the Premier League standings with four points from five games, are looking to build momentum after a difficult start. Their recent form shows improvement, with three wins in their last five matches, including a dramatic 3-2 victory over Tottenham where they scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute. The club's recruitment team is actively working to identify targets who can bolster Unai Emery's squad, especially following key summer departures and a season-ending injury to Amadou Onana. The team's immediate focus is on their next fixture, a home match against Everton on September 30th.
Player in focus
Prestianni has emerged as a standout performer for Benfica this season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in just 12 appearances across all competitions. His creative output is notable, averaging 2.4 key passes and 3.1 successful dribbles per game. His rapid development has drawn praise from high-profile figures, including José Mourinho. The former manager said, "Look, if I were in the stands, I'd applaud too." Villa's scouts are compiling detailed stats on his performances to inform their assessment.
Contract situation and competition
The young winger is under contract with the Portuguese champions until June 2029, and his deal includes a substantial €100 million release clause. Benfica are understood to be in talks to improve his terms in an effort to ward off interest. Aston Villa are not alone in their admiration, with Tottenham Hotspur and Atlético Madrid also reportedly monitoring his situation. Villa's scouting mission forms part of a broader strategy to demonstrate ambition to manager Unai Emery and reassure supporters after a summer of significant change, as the club aims to climb the table ahead of a busy fixtures list.
As the squad prepares for that game, the scouting department continues its work, with representatives likely to be in attendance at Argentina's upcoming matches to further assess Prestianni's capabilities.
This story first appeared at GiveMeSport
