Tottenham Hotspur are looking to revamp their midfield over the summer.
After missing out on signing Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, Spurs are forced to look for alternatives to provide that creative spark in the centre of the pitch.
Defensive midfielders have also seemingly been a priority in the transfer window, with Yves Bissouma having an uncertain future in this new era under Thomas Frank.
Joao Palhinha has been touted as a potential replacement for Bissouma, and now the Lilywhites could beat Manchester United to the Portuguese midfielder’s signature.
Spurs prepare to get Palhinha on the cheap
Frank’s Tottenham side is seemingly beginning to take shape ahead of the new Premier League campaign, with Burnley defender Maxime Esteve on the verge of signing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Palhinha would be another solid addition for Spurs, with the North London outfit already in contact with Bayern Munich over a potential deal for the 30-year-old, according to reports from O Jogo (pg 25, 27 July)
The midfielder failed to establish himself in the starting XI in Munich last season, with an injury also derailing his season.
Manchester United are also interested in Palhinha; however, the Red Devils will only sign a new holding midfielder if Casemiro leaves in the summer.
This opens the door for Spurs to secure the former Fulham man as Frank looks to reinforce his engine room with defensive-minded midfielders.
The Lilywhites are also set to offer substantially less than the £44.5million the German giants paid for the Portuguese international last summer, given his limited involvement gametime.
Palhinha could be a shrewd signing for Spurs
With Palhinha already being Premier League proven, where he became one of the best defensive midfielders in the league for Fulham, bringing him back to England for a reduced fee would be an incredible piece of business.
It’s not as though the Portuguese midfielder’s days of dominating the middle of the park are a distant memory, and Spurs could be the perfect place for Palhinha to rediscover his best form after a forgettable season in Germany.
With the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr all being young players, Palhinha’s experience could prove to be a vital asset for Frank next season.