Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi was a big fan of João Palhinha and wanted to sign him permanently. But Bayern refused to budge on the price and insisted on the €30m option to buy, which led to Spurs abandoning the idea. That looks to have backfired right now because while the interested parties from Portugal, Benfica and Sporting, are keen on Palhinha, they can’t afford the asking price and want a loan deal instead – which Bayern want to avoid. Bayern’s hopes currently hinge on Aston Villa, who have expressed interest.
However, it’s possible the club will have to significantly lower their asking price or end up agreeing to a loan. Otherwise, they risk not finding a buyer at all and being stuck with the player. Palhinha has no role to play under Vincent Kompany, the coach does not have him in his plans. The midfielder reported back to pre-season yesterday, waiting to find a solution in the meantime.