Spurs are in the market for a new midfielder this summer and may have found their man.
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Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a loan move for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer as Thomas Frank looks to add more bite into his midfield.
The former Brentford manager deployed Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Lucas Bergvall in the two defensive midfield roles during the pre-season friendly against Reading on Saturday afternoon. Spurs kept a clean sheet but there were misplaced passes and a lack of synergy in those important roles.
Palhinha has been touted as the ideal replacement given his availability at Bayern Munich and his Premier League experience. The 30-year-old spent two years with Fulham, making 68 top flight appearances and turning heads with his dominant performances.
Tottenham Hotspur eye loan move for former Fulham man
It’s not the first time that Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Palhinha with a £25 million fee touted. However, The Mirror claims that Spurs will instead look to bring the player in on loan.
Palhinha only joined Bayern Munich last summer but has struggled to settle in Germany, with just nine starts last season. Speaking at the Club World Cup, he said: “Obviously, it hasn’t been an easy year for me, but I’m also very motivated to – as soon as the season starts – prove my worth once again, at a very special club like Bayern, a huge club.
“I have a contract with Bayern for another three years, so I’ll report back on the 29 [July], which is when we start pre-season. Enjoying these vacation days with family and friends is the most important thing right now.”
Palhinha ‘smells blood’ in centre midfield
Standing at 6’ 3”, Palhinha earned a reputation for always being in the right place at the right time to stop attackers and was one of the league’s most feared players. Speaking about the player, former Fulham captain Tom Cairney said: "If you lose the ball, he smells blood. He’s probably one of the best I've ever seen off the ball, in terms of getting back, recovering and trying to win back the ball.
"He doesn't just put pressure on them, he goes back to win the ball and does the tackle. It's amazing to watch sometimes. I think the fans have taken to him. I think he's been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League."
In other news, Tottenham in talks with ex Chelsea star as Morgan Gibbs-White saga takes fresh twist - round-up.