Journalist Pete O’Rourke has provided an update regarding Joao Palhinha’s chances of making a permanent switch to Tottenham.
While the Portugal international may not have pulled out any trees across his loan spell at N17, he has shown his quality and experience on several occasions in what has been a tumultuous season at N17.
The case in point was what happened a little over a week ago, with Palhinha popping up with an all-important match-winner against Wolves.
Tottenham have the option to sign Palhinha permanently for £22m this summer, and there has been plenty of speculation regarding whether they will take up that option.
Pete O’Rourke says what is needed for Joao Palhinha to remain at Tottenham
Reports from Germany have claimed that Thomas Frank’s exit from Spurs has made the midfielder’s future at N17 uncertain as his loan spell at N17 approaches its end.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now declared that the 31-year-old has no future at the Allianz Arena. He suggested that Spurs would be open to signing Palhinha permanently as long as they stay up and Bayern offer them a discount.
When asked about the former Fulham man’s future, O’Rourke told Football Insider: “I think it’s pretty certain that he doesn’t have a long-term future at Bayern Munich. He’s under contract until 2028, but he’s well down the pecking order at the Allianz Arena.
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“I don’t see any way back for him to break into Vincent Kompany’s plans.
“He started the season off pretty well for Tottenham and was a regular starter, but then has probably found himself out of favour since the turn of the year. Everything’s open right now.
“Spurs don’t know what they can and can’t do in the transfer market because they don’t know what league they’re going to be in. If Spurs stay up and they can renegotiate that buy option, then there’s a real opportunity that Palhinha could extend to stay.”
Will Bayern Munich offer Spurs a discount on Palhinha?
O’Rourke is not the only one to report on a potential renegotiation of the midfielder’s purchase clause this summer.
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg also suggested recently that Spurs are expected to ask for a discount from Bayern for Palhinha this summer, as they do not want to pay £22m for his services.