In Negotiation
After just one season with Bayern Munich, midfielder João Palhinha may be on the brink of returning to London. The Portuguese player was signed by Bayern for €51 million from Fulham last summer, marking one of the club’s largest transfers in history. However, the 30-year-old defensive midfielder faced challenges securing playing time under coach Vincent Kompany and is now exploring new opportunities. According to The Athletic, which has been confirmed by Transfermarkt, Tottenham has expressed serious interest in acquiring Palhinha this summer.
The primary challenge lies in the proposed terms of the deal. Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Max Eberl, aims to sell Palhinha to facilitate further transfers. “It’s not an easy transfer window, especially considering the injuries to Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, and Hiroki Itō,” Eberl remarked at the introductory press conference for new signing Luis Díaz. He added, “We’re quite pleased with the squad,” although the situation isn’t entirely as it appears. Bayern is looking to bolster their roster but requires player departures first.
Potential outgoings include Serge Gnabry, Min-Jae Kim, Leon Goretzka, and Palhinha. While there are rumors surrounding Kim and a move to Saudi Arabia, Goretzka and Gnabry currently seem secure in their positions. Nonetheless, concrete interest from Tottenham provides a glimmer of hope for Palhinha. Although Bayern is aiming for a transfer fee of €25-30 million, Tottenham is leaning towards a loan arrangement with an option to buy. While Bayern is not entirely opposed to a loan, they prefer that the option be an obligation to purchase. Palhinha has indicated his desire to establish himself within Bayern’s squad; however, Tottenham’s qualification for the Champions League may further influence his return to England.
Palhinha to Tottenham – What Went Wrong at Bayern Munich?
What led to Palhinha’s struggles at Bayern Munich? When Thomas Tuchel was head coach in the summer of 2023, Palhinha was his top target, identified as the ideal holding midfielder for his system. A transfer appeared imminent on deadline day, September 1, 2023, with Palhinha at Bayern’s training ground ready for his announcement. Unfortunately, the deal collapsed when Fulham was unable to secure a replacement before the German transfer deadline.
Palhinha subsequently signed a new contract with Fulham, which likely provided short-term satisfaction but resulted in a missed significant wage increase. It seems that Bayern and Fulham had planned for a transfer a year later. Ultimately, Palhinha did join Bayern a year after the failed transfer, but circumstances had changed; Tuchel was replaced by Kompany. Struggling to adapt to Kompany’s tactical approach, Palhinha made only six Bundesliga starts and appeared in 17 matches overall, playing a total of just 986 minutes across all competitions—mostly as a substitute. Given this context, Bayern is looking to offload the Portuguese midfielder to create more flexibility in their summer transfer activities, which could benefit Tottenham.
What can Palhinha bring to Tottenham? Despite his issues at Bayern, Palhinha remains a prominent midfielder. It’s fair to say he fell victim to a managerial change at the club. Reflecting on his final season in the Premier League with Fulham, Palhinha was regarded as one of the best holding midfielders in English football. The season before his move to Bayern, he led the league in tackles won and ranked third in interceptions. He also scored pivotal equalisers against Arsenal and Brighton early in that campaign. Fulham manager Marco Silva praised him, stating, “His attitude, commitment, and the way he elevates those around him are rare qualities. His reactions when we lose the ball are remarkable.”
