Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with Bayern Munich over a loan move for midfielder Joao Palhinha.
The Athletic reported on July 22 that Palhinha was available this summer, with Spurs favouring a loan over a permanent deal.
Tottenham and Bayern have already done business this summer, with the Premier League side striking a permanent deal for Mathys Tel for up to €45million (£38.9m; $51.5m) after the forward spent the second half of last season on loan in England.
Palhinha, 30, signed for Bayern from Fulham in a deal worth €51m last summer, but made just 25 appearances in his debut season, of which 10 were starts.
Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany often favoured other midfielders, such as Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Konrad Laimer over Palhinha during the 2024-25 season, while the German champions further bolstered their options with the signing of 20-year-old Tom Bischof from Hoffenheim this summer.
Palhinha had become a key figure at Fulham following his move from Sporting CP in 2022. He made 79 appearances for Fulham and was the club’s player of the season in his debut campaign. Before his Premier League move, the midfielder had spent the entirety of his career in Portugal, moving from the academy of Sacavenense to Sporting in in 2013 before loan spells with Moreirense, Belenenses and Braga.
The Portugal international could become the fourth new arrival for Tottenham this summer, with the north London club active in the transfer market following the appointment of Thomas Frank as head coach.
Spurs signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United earlier in July in a deal worth £55million ($74.7m), alongside defenders Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai from Hajduk Split and Kawasaki respectively.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White was set to undergo a medical at Tottenham before then signing a new contract at the City Ground club.
Palhina would address a problem area
Analysis by Tottenham correspondent Jay Harris
Tottenham’s pursuit of Gibbs-White was exciting but slightly confusing because they are well stocked with attacking midfielders including Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Kudus.
Palhinha would address an area of the squad which has been a problem for the last few seasons. Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma have shared the holding midfield role but neither of them are a perfect fit. They have both entered the final 12 months of their contract and their long-term future is uncertain.
Palhinha is a proven Premier League performer who would allow Maddison, Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall to push further forward. He would represent a slight departure from Tottenham’s transfer strategy. Since Johan Lange became their sporting director in November 2023, they have focused on acquiring young talent like Bergvall, Gray and Wilson Odobert.
They need more experience though ahead of their return to the Champions League and Palhinha would provide that. A short-term deal would be perfect as it would prevent them from committing too much money and by next summer, Gray could be ready to become their first-choice No 6.
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