Joao Palhinha might join former club Sporting.
Tottenham Hotspur could be set to miss out on retaining Joao Palhinha, with the club’s reported interest in Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney providing a significant clue about the direction of their midfield rebuild this summer, according to John Wenham via Tottenham News.
Palhinha’s future at the club is uncertain. A report from A Bola subsequently suggested the Portuguese international is close to agreeing a return to his homeland with Sporting, and Tottenham’s apparent reluctance to move decisively to retain him has left supporters frustrated, given the contribution he made to keeping the club in the Premier League.
The man who scored the goal that secured survival against Everton, who was not dribbled past once across the entire season and who contributed ten goal involvements, deserved a clearer and more immediate signal of commitment from a club he served with distinction throughout one of its most traumatic campaigns.
Wenham believes the Hackney interest may explain the hesitation. He said:
“We have seen reports that Tottenham are one of three clubs interested in Hayden Hackney. I just wonder if it is to do with that, and they want a different profile in the squad, to bring down the average age of the side. We have got a lot of good young players already, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and others. Palhinha seemed like a sensible signing, had an amazing season for Tottenham, scored seven goals, but had loads of really important tackles and defensive contributions too. I just wonder if personal circumstances are at play, maybe he wants to return to Portugal, and at his age he sees this as his last chance to get a big contract. It would be a blow.”
With Joao Palhinha at 30, Tottenham are leaning toward younger talent
The logic behind pursuing Hackney is understandable from a financial and strategic perspective. The 23-year-old Middlesbrough midfielder excelled in the Championship last season and would represent considerably better value than retaining a 30-year-old on what would inevitably be a substantial contract. Tottenham’s broader recruitment philosophy under De Zerbi has leaned toward younger profiles, and Hackney fits that model more naturally than Palhinha at this stage of his career.