Aston Villa Eye €100m Star After Stunning Start To Season: Could He Solve Their Attacking Problems?

Aston Villa Eye €100m Star After Stunning Start To Season: Could He Solve Their Attacking Problems? Aston Villa have stepped up their interest in a 20-year-old Benfica winger, with Gianluca Prestianni emerging as a January target after an opening to the 2026/27 campaign. Reports from Portugal say Villa scouts have been keeping a close eye on the Argentina international. O Jogo, via Sport Witness , reports that the Premier League club have tracked Prestianni since the start of the season and could act during the January window. Interest grew after Villa representatives watched Benfica face Porto at the Estadio do Dragao on September 20. Prestianni caused problems and supplied Benfica’s goal in the 3-1 defeat, despite the visitors playing most of the match with 10 men. His numbers explain the attention. The 20-year-old has scored eight goals and provided three assists in 12 appearances across competitions this season. Those figures mark a sharp rise from his 2025/26 output, when he registered three goals and five assists in 41 Benfica appearances. Sport Witness separately reported that Aston Villa scouts attended the Porto-Benfica clash, citing A Bola’s report on the clubs represented in the stands. That visit does not prove Villa have opened negotiations, but Prestianni gave the scouts much to assess. Could Prestianni solve Aston Villa’s attacking problem? LISBON, PORTUGAL – JANUARY 28: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid C.F. at Estadio do SL Benfica on January 28, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images) For Villa , the appeal goes beyond a goals-and-assists tally. Prestianni offers a direct left-sided threat that can change how a defence sets itself, particularly against opponents who defend deep and leave little room between the lines. His strongest work comes when he starts wide before cutting inside onto his right foot. That movement can pull a full-back narrow, open a passing lane and create space for overlapping runners. The Argentine can attack the gap or release the ball once defenders commit. That variety matters for Unai Emery, whose sides often need movement before a low block cracks. The Porto performance deserves attention for another reason. Benfica lost a player to a red card in the first half, yet Prestianni kept asking questions and created the moment that produced his side’s goal. That response says more about his attacking temperament than a routine contribution against a weaker opponent. There is a caveat, though. Eight goals in 12 matches represent a brilliant start, yet Villa would need to judge whether that production can continue in a more physical Premier League setting. The club should study his pressing, recovery runs and positioning before committing money. A €100 million release clause makes the calculation harder. Benfica hold the Argentine to a contract running until June 2029, giving the club a strong negotiating position. Reports say Benfica are discussing improved wages as they try to protect their asset from interest. The Garnacho comparison adds another factor. If Villa see Prestianni as an alternative on the flank, the key question should concern tactical balance rather than replacing one Argentine winger with another. Emery needs wide players who can create, press and repeat those actions throughout matches. Prestianni has started the season with attacking output, and Aston Villa now have a view of what the 20-year-old can offer.