Aston Villa scouts reportedly attend Porto and Benfica match

Aston Villa are reported to have sent scouts to watch Porto defeat Benfica 3-1 at the Estádio do Dragão on Sunday. According to Sport Witness, the Portuguese newspaper A Bola listed the club among those represented in the stands for the fixture.

The outlet notes that several players involved have previously been connected with Villa. Benfica striker Vangelos Pavlidis, who entered the match with eight goals from seven league appearances this season, has been linked with the club during the summer transfer window. Midfielder João Palhinha is also mentioned as someone Villa wanted before he joined Benfica.

Sport Witness highlights performances from younger players who may have drawn attention. Porto's Victor Froholdt, a 20-year-old midfielder returning from a concussion, is described as the standout performer of the game. Teammate Gabri Veiga, 24, and right-back Alberto Costa are also named, alongside Benfica's 20-year-old winger Gianluca Prestianni, who provided his side's only goal.

With the summer transfer window having closed on 1 September, Premier League clubs cannot complete signings until the January 2027 window opens. Any continued observation of these players would therefore be preparatory work ahead of that period. Aston Villa have not commented on the report.