Tottenham Hotspur have secured the services of João Palhinha for the next year on a loan from Bayern Munich. The two clubs come up against each other for the second year in a row in preseason, and ahead of the meeting, Thomas Frank admitted he "was a bit surprised" the move has happened.
‘It was an opportunity for us’
Palhinha has already made an impression in the English top tier. With 147 and 154 tackles, he had completed the most of any player in the Premier League in his two years with the Cottagers, and was their Player of the Season in his debut campaign. Frank feels that he still has many valuable assets.
“His defensive qualities, his ability to be in the centre of the pitch, very disciplined, his distribution, short, diagonals, passes in behind and his ability to break up play. If you are playing away from home or against good counter-attacking teams. It’s very important to have one that is not running away or gets attracted to something. His set-piece ability in both boxes is key thing and he has experience,.”
The midfielder had completed a medical for Die Roten in the summer of 2023 ahead of a transfer for a fee of €65 million, but the deal collapsed due to the failure of Fulham to find a replacement. So, his inability to break into the team once he switched allegiances last year was a surprise to the manager.
“Yeah, I was a bit surprised. Bayern Munich went hard for him for two years, and for whatever reason, which I actually don’t care about because we can get him, it was an opportunity for us.”
The 30-year-old only played in half of the Bundesliga fixtures last term, sitting behind Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Leon Goretzka in the pecking order. Admittedly, Thomas Tuchel was the man who desired him, and Vincent Kompany has been happy to have Kimmich as the fulcrum of his midfield. But the reasons why the move did not go to plan are not worrying Frank.
“He is a top player. He impressed everyone in the Premier League in his two years at Fulham. He is a regular for Portugal. Whatever the reason he left, maybe it’s the coach, the culture, the club, or himself. It is difficult to say. My concern is that he wanted to come, and we wanted him to come.”
‘We need him and his profile’
Supporters of Spurs have watched their side try to play fearless football with Ange Postecoglou. Yves Bissouma is the man who was closest to their idea of a six, but he has not fulfilled their desire for someone willing to sit and screen the back four. Now, they have acquired a player who fits that bill.
“Sometimes everything goes a little bit in circles. Sometimes it is impossible to get a number nine. Sometimes it is impossible to get a number six. Sometimes it is impossible to get a right-back. At this moment in time, there are not many number sixes in the market, so we are quite lucky to get him.”
At the same time, Frank thinks it is a good idea that the club has not fully committed to Palhinha.
“That was important for all of us. We need him and his profile, but let’s see how he settles in. The loan with an option gives us the opportunity to go one step further. When we sign a player, no matter loan or permanent, it’s always for the long term. It gives us a bit more wriggling room in a year’s time.”
The Dane declared that this loan gives the more youthful options in the middle of the park twelve months more to grow. Lucas Bergvall, who played 45 times for Spurs in his first season, and Archie Gray, who shone in the last game of the preseason tour against Newcastle United, are both only 19.
“Yes, that is a very good point. These are two big talents that I am really pleased we have here in the building, but it’s also clear they need to grow. Pape Matar Sarr has shown that. It’s not about age.”
The Senegalese midfielder stands out as one of the winners of the team's preseason preparation.
“They are 19, he is 22. It’s not that. Some are ready when they are 19, some at 20, some 22 or 23, but you can see Pape is just a tiny bit ahead and is a big talent. We have been very pleased with him.”