Yahoo Sports

Tottenham Hotspur are considering a fresh move for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha after the option to buy him expired, according to the Sun.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club signed the 30-year-old Portuguese on loan last summer, with an option to buy him for €30 million.

That option expired yesterday, with Spurs clearly looking to pay less for Palhinha and also sign him on reduced wages after failing to qualify for Europe.

It was reported last week that the Bayern star has reached an agreement to join Sporting CP, but no deal has been struck between both clubs.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi wants the Lilywhites to sign the midfielder and has gone public with it.

“Yes, I would like to keep him, 100 per cent,” the Italian said after Palhinha bagged the winner in the 1-0 victory over Everton last month to keep the North London club up.

The midfielder made 45 appearances for Spurs, scoring seven goals and weighing in with three assists.

De Zerbi will hope to lead the club to a top-five finish next season and secure Champions League football for 2027-28, and he could do with Palhinha’s services in the middle of the park.

The Italian wants a squad overhaul this summer after claiming only 12 players out of the 28 players at the club are good enough to stay beyond this season.

Palhinha is included and Bayern will have to lower their €30m fee or agree to another loan deal for him to be at Spurs next season.

Tottenham do not have plenty of wiggle room in their budget ahead of the summer transfer window after missing out on Europe.

They are unlikely to splash the cash if they do not want to be punished by the Premier League for breaking the financial rules.

After saving Tottenham Hotspur from relegation from the Premier League and turning the mentality of the club back around, Roberto De Zerbi will have even more power than anticipated to drive the summer offseason strategy at N17.

Already, De Zerbi was promised by Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham nearly as much power as them in the team's doings as part of the highly attractive package offer to coax the Italian manager into coaching a sinking ship immediately instead of waiting to see their relegation fate play out.

In the early going, De Zerbi has seemingly made it his priority to keep one of the veteran midfielders he has revived in Tottenham. RDZ has publicly praised Joao Palhinha multiple times, and he very much wants the Portuguese international to be a fixture of the club for at least another season, urging Spurs to exercise the 25-30 million euro option to buy clause in his loan deal from Bayern Munich.

Roberto De Zerbi's stance is clear

In his home country, Sporting CP have been showing major interest in stealing Palhinha away from Spurs, and though they are doing their best, Spurs are the ones with the active and valid option to buy clause and can be the ones to exercise their right of first refusal.

As Sporting continue to push for the transfer, Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports News reports that Roberto De Zerbi is continuing to recruit Joao Palhinha to stay. RDZ reportedly had further personal talks with Palhinha amidst the interest from Portugal, doing his best to convince Palhinha. And per Thomas, Spurs are indeed in pole position to keep Palhinha despite the recent complication provided by the Lisbon based powers.

Although Palhinha was crucial to Tottenham by the end of the 2025/26 season in the Premier League relegation fight with shutdown defense, a warrior mentality, and clutch goals, including the winner on Matchday 38 against Everton in a brilliant all around perforamnce, many Spurs fans are skeptical about keeping Palhinha.

The Portuguese international is an amazing ball winner, but his positioning and shielding are not always great. He is also a liability on the ball against better teams, and Spurs fans are wondering why De Zerbi wants him when he is not a progressive passer or a. traditional tactical fit for what De Zerbi likes doing. But if De Zerbi wants Palhinha that badly, it is hard to see Spurs - or Palhinha, for that matter - telling him no.

Tottenham Hotspur defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha looked like he was 100 percent on the way out after his briliant start to life at N17 withered away and he became exposed for a lack of quality on the ball. But like so many others at Tottenham, new manager Roberto De Zerbi got the most out of Palhinha during the Premier League relegation battle.

Despite De Zerbi publicly proclaiming on multiple occasions his desire to keep the Portuguese international permanently from his loan deal with German giants Bayern Munich, it appeared Sporting CP had thrown a wrench in the plans with Palhinha more interested in a return to his native Portugal.

Tottenham still hold all the cards

However, top transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has different information from the major outlets in Portugal, who are potentially overly slanted towards the LIsbon based giants. Romano states that based on his information, Joao Palhinha has a "very good" feeling with Roberto De Zerbi and is actually giving his main preference to Tottenham Hotspur over Sporting CP right now. Sporting are only in the picture if Spurs refuse the deal.

That makes much more sense, because it is clear that Palhinha was loving his football at Spurs under De Zerbi, like so many others changing his opinion and outward emotions with an actual coach as compared to Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank. Plus, it is obvious that since Tottenham hold a 25-30 million euro buy back clause for Palhinha with Bayern, they are the ones with the official right of first refusal; Sporting can't just come in and steal the player from out of nowhere.

But if Palhinha wants to go, Tottenham cannot and are not going to hold him against the will. So while, officially, the ball is in Spurs court, Palhinha does ultimately decide his future. As Fab is saying though, it appears Palhinha wants his future to be with Spurs, a massive club that are still massive even without European football to boast of next season. The Palhinha case remains in Spurs favor.

good morning hoddlers!

It’s the offseason, which means it’s running season. But does running season ever take time off? No!

You might remember that your hoddler-in-chief ran his latest marathon on 4 April in 3:02. Three minutes north of the sub-three barrier. I’m not giving up hopes in my chase for a sub-3 and I think it’s doable. It’s just going to require some more work.

I’m currently in-between training blocks (assuming I’m running another marathon in the autumn, which I haven’t decided on yet). There are a couple stages to this, but I’ve finished the first one which is the recovery phase.

The recovery phase lasted a couple weeks longer than I anticipated due to a weeklong holiday and an illness. But I set a goal: To run another half marathon before June. I didn’t want to race it, I just wanted to run the distance and keep my racing edge.

So I woke up at 4.30am on Sunday and ran a half marathon two hours later.

Distance: 13.1 miles

Time: 1:27.42

Average pace: 6:41/mi

While I ran 14 miles the other week, this race was the most intense run I’ve done since marathon day. Thirteen sustained miles at a sub-7 pace, with the first 10 around a 6.35/mile pace. It was only in the final three miles where I learnt that my legs still aren’t fully there.

This was actually a pretty frustrating morning, all things considered. Here’s a list:

A mass start of runners on a narrow trail as opposed to a staggered start time. A

A group of 10K and 5K runners further up ahead who I had to dodge both coming and going (and several of whom wouldn’t move after I called on them to pass).

I was in a leading pack with two different runners. They made me lead for the first eight miles of the race so I had to all the heavy lifting. This includes dodging the 5K and 10K runners, navigating rocks and puddles and large cracks, finding the easiest path and spotting two deer crossing the trail. They eventually sped ahead after Mile 8 which, fine, I had no interest in chasing after then. But if they could run that fast they should’ve helped out.

A flock of territorial geese.

Even though my legs didn’t have it that day, and despite some of the troubles on the trail, I’m really pleased with the day. My time was only 45 seconds slower than my personal best which, considering I wasn’t running at a half marathon effort, I’m very excited about.

So what’s next? I’m going to take it easy the next week or so and possibly switch back to running four days a week and lifting twice a week. And then I’m thinking about a short training session to get that half marathon personal best, which might transition to the next full marathon training block. Still lots to be decided.

Fitzie’s track of the day: ideations on rain, by Duval Timothy

And now for your links:

The Telegraph: “England land in US as Harry Kane admits: We are expected to win World Cup”

BBC: “Southampton owner will not sack head coach Eckert”

The Guardian: “Michail Antonio: ‘In football, no one really cares about you as long as you perform’”

In a recent post on X, journalist Sebastien Vidal claimed that Tottenham Hotspur could step up their efforts to land Manchester City winger Savinho. It has been mentioned that Spurs are hoping to snap the Brazilian wide player up this summer.

Savinho’s Up-And-Down Season In The Premier League

Savinho struggled to earn a regular first-team spot at the Mancunian club but managed to put in a string of impressive displays for them in the Premier League last season. The 22-year-old has found the back of the net four times and earned three assists in 36 matches for Man City in the previous campaign across all competitions.

The Brazilian sensation is currently one of the most talented wingers in the Premier League. Thus, Spurs would do well to get a deal done for Savinho in this summer transfer period.

Savinho is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031, which could make it difficult for Tottenham to sign him on the cheap this off-season.

MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 11: Savinho of Manchester City is challenged by Ferland Mendy of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 11, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Will Savinho Be A Good Fit For Tottenham Hotspur?

Savinho can use his quickness to get the better of his marker out in the wide areas. He is a technically-gifted wide player, who has the vision to create some decent chances for his teammates to score.

The Brazilian sensation can shoot the ball with power from long range and can chip in by scoring and creating a few crucial goals for his side. Savinho is primarily a winger but can also play in the number ten position if needed. He has got some valuable experience in the Premier League and won’t take much time to settle into life at Tottenham.

Savinho will add more pace and goals to Roberto De Zerbi’s attack. He has what it takes to fight for a regular first-team place at the North London club next season.

At 22, Savinho has got the potential to be a world-class player in his position someday. Therefore, he would be a great fit for De Zerbi’s needs in the long run. All in all, Tottenham should focus on going all out to bring him on board this summer.

Remember all of those reports coming from A Bola and other outlets in the Portuguese media that suggested that Joao Palhiniha was keen on a return to Sporting, his old club, at the conclusion of his season-long Tottenham Hotspur loan? Welllllllllllll Fabrizio Romano has something to say about that, and that is that Tottenham would be Joao’s first choice of clubs should he have any say over the matter.

So this kinda makes sense, honestly. Palhinha’s agent is likely doing his job and securing multiple options for Joao. Bayern sure seem like they’re keen to get rid of him entirely, so staying in Germany doesn’t seem to be the answer. Roberto De Zerbi has mentioned in press conferences and interviews that he’d like to keep ahold of Joao next season; Tottenham have a €30m purchase option at the conclusion of his loan but those are generally guidelines, and if they’re interested Spurs will probably try to negotiate that price down.

But the Sporting rumors also appear to be a thing; Romano suggests that they’re his backup plan should a deal not work with Tottenham or if Spurs decide they’d like to move in a different direction.

I’m a little torn on this. I like Palhinha and he’s been pretty good for us in what has been a terribly constructed midfield. I think he could be a plus add for Spurs if they pair him with a dude who can actually pass, and it’s nice to have a defensive midfielder who can pop up now and then with a goal. He’s also a solid leader and a nice guy, so he’s not at all without value.

What we don’t know is whether De Zerbi agrees or if he feels like he needs to make room in the squad for new additions. But it sounds like, if we want him, we can get Palhiniha permanently. Or maybe just on loan again. Who knows!

Spurs Set to Miss Out as João Palhinha Pushes for Sporting Return

Tottenham Hotspur appear increasingly likely to walk away from a deal for João Palhinha, with fresh reports from A Bola suggesting the Portuguese midfielder has made up his mind about where he wants his future to lie.

For Spurs, this is becoming a significant subplot in what could be a busy summer under Roberto De Zerbi. The club secured Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich for the 2025/26 campaign and negotiated an option to make the move permanent for €30 million. Yet football transfers are rarely straightforward when personal ambitions and family considerations enter the equation.

Photo IMAGO

According to A Bola, Palhinha’s preference is now firmly focused on a return to Sporting CP, the club where he established himself before moving abroad.

Personal Choice Shapes Tottenham Outcome

The decisive factor appears to be the player’s own position.

The report states that Palhinha has “a word to say” regarding any permanent transfer and that his decision has effectively been made.

His desire to return to Lisbon is reportedly driven by personal and family reasons. If that stance remains unchanged, Tottenham’s option becomes largely irrelevant regardless of the agreed fee with Bayern Munich.

Photo: IMAGO

For Spurs, it is a reminder that transfer planning must always account for the wishes of the player. Clubs can negotiate terms, activate clauses and agree valuations, but commitment remains crucial.

The timing is also important. A Bola reports that Tottenham’s purchase option expires imminently, opening the door for Sporting to begin direct negotiations with Bayern Munich.

Midfield Plans Face Fresh Questions

There is an interesting element within the report that reflects positively on Tottenham and De Zerbi.

Palhinha reportedly “does not forget the words of coach De Zerbi who desires him strongly for next season.”

Photo IMAGO

That detail suggests the new Spurs manager viewed the experienced midfielder as an important piece of his evolving project. Given De Zerbi’s preference for technical quality and positional discipline, Palhinha’s profile made considerable sense.

However, recruitment strategies cannot revolve around players whose long term ambitions lie elsewhere.

Spurs will now need to assess alternative options should Palhinha’s departure become inevitable. The club’s midfield remains one of the most important areas to strengthen as they seek to build on recent progress and establish themselves among the Premier League’s elite once again.

Sporting Move Gathering Momentum

According to A Bola, Sporting are preparing to enter formal discussions with Bayern Munich.

The proposed structure is expected to involve a loan agreement with a fixed fee followed by an obligatory purchase clause.

The report also claims that Palhinha is willing to make significant financial sacrifices to facilitate a return to Portugal. Having reportedly earned around €9 million gross per season in Munich, he is prepared to reduce his salary in order to complete the move.

That level of commitment illustrates how strongly the player feels about returning to Sporting.

For Bayern Munich, where Vincent Kompany reportedly does not see Palhinha as part of his plans despite a contract running until 2028, an agreement may eventually suit all parties.

From Tottenham’s perspective, this increasingly feels like a transfer that is slipping beyond their control.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Spurs supporters, there will be a degree of disappointment in this report, particularly because Palhinha always looked like a player capable of adding experience, leadership and resilience to the midfield.

The most frustrating aspect is not necessarily losing the player. It is losing a player who appears to fit exactly what De Zerbi wants. The report suggests the manager was eager to keep him and that should carry weight. When a new coach identifies a player as important, supporters naturally hope the club can make it happen.

That said, there is also an acceptance that Tottenham should not be convincing anyone to stay. If Palhinha’s heart is set on returning to Sporting, forcing the issue would benefit nobody.

Spurs have spent too many years collecting players whose futures felt uncertain from the outset. Commitment matters. De Zerbi needs footballers fully invested in his project.

The positive takeaway is that Tottenham now have clarity. If the option expires and Palhinha moves towards Sporting, the recruitment team can focus entirely on alternative targets.

Supporters will trust that De Zerbi and the club already have contingency plans in place. The summer market rarely moves in a straight line, and missing out on one player does not define a window.

Palhinha would have been a useful addition, but Tottenham’s long term success depends on building a squad full of players who see their future in north London.

One of the biggest needs Tottenham Hotspur must fill this summer transfer window is the left wing. Mathys Tel has a lot of promise, but beyond him, only Wilson Odobert can play the position. And Tel and Odobert, talented as they are, are not ready to be the main starters for a team that should be competing for Champions League places - and obviously not locked in the Premier League relegation fight.

Spurs still have not replaced Son Heung-min, and, well, they did not even attempt to replace the irreplaceable in either of the last two transfer windows. Antoine Semenyo had no interest in Spurs and neither did his Manchester City teammate Omar Marmoush. Savinho is still a topic for discussion, while Ademola Lookman was never even pursued.

But there is another, more underrated name Tottenham are after on the left wing this summer transfer window - a player who had 18 goals and assists for one of La Liga's biggest clubs last season and who has a Barcelona pedigree, Abde Ezzalzouli of Real Betis.

Tottenham are after a key Newcastle target

According to a report from Diario Sport's Alex Merida, Tottenham Hotspur have joined fellow Premier League giants Newcastle United with interest in Betis's Abde, and they have just made contact with Los Verdiblancos in pursuit of the breakout Moroccan international.

Real Betis are a haven for underrated players and future stars of Europe, and while former Manchester United transfer flop Antony has soaked most of the attention with his bloom in the south of Spain, Abde was pretty much just as good as the Brazilian international in the 2025/26 La Liga campaign for the club with Spain's most impassioned fans.

Abde, in addition to the goals and assists, averaged nearly four fouls drawn and dribbles completed per game combined, creating danger out of nothing for Betis. He was also one of the hardest working attacking players in European football with nearly 2.5 combined tackles and interceptions per game, suiting the ethos of the club's play.

Tottenham need someone who can provide goals and assists out wide, win one on ones, and consistently deliver the goods while creating danger defensively, too. Abde is an affordable player who checks a lot of boxes.

Newcastle United will definitely be going hard after Abde Ezzalzouli after surprisingly selling Anthony Gordon from the left wing to Barcelona for big money. A roll of the dice on how he fits the Premier League, Abde has the strength, athletic tools, and work ethic to be a smart signing. Spurs are on the right track here, though the Plan A options should be the bigger names like Man City's Savinho.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence wasted no time riling up Arsenal fans following Saturday’s Champions League final.

Arsenal defeated Spurs 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in February, and the Gunners took to social media to post a clip of their players marking out the Tottenham star.

Spence waited for the right moment to get back at the Emirates Stadium club, quoting the post with a reply following their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the elite European competition tonight.

Arsenal took the lead through Kai Havertz very early in the game but a second-half penalty from Ousmane Dembele forced the game into extra-time.

The match had to be decided by penalties following a 1-1 draw at the end of 120 minutes, and PSG won 4-3.

Arsenal were unlucky not to win and they could have had a penalty in extra-time following a foul on Noni Madueke.

However, the referee was not convinced, eventually booking Declan Rice and Mikel Arteta for dissent.

They will now look to go one better in the Champions League next season and also retain their Premier League title after ending their 22-year wait.

The Gunners reached the final of the competition in 2006, losing to Barcelona, before getting this far again after 20 years.

The Lilywhites narrowly escaped relegation, with a win over Everton on the last day of the Premier League campaign ensuring their safety.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi is eyeing a possible squad overhaul in the summer transfer window, and he needs quality players capable of getting the club to challenge for major trophies.

Tottenham Hotspur finished 17th in the Premier League and only saved themselves from relegation on the last game of the season, so there is a real worry around N17 that some of the club's best players, especially their players of the future, could be tempted to leave for a bigger club in less of a crisis that will be playing in European football next season.

Spurs supporters are OK with the seemingly foregone conclusion that captain Cristian Romero maybe not so quietly wants out this summer after flirting with La Liga last year, but the real concern is if players with more future value like Micky van de Ven and especially Luka Vuskovic want to go.

So far, all indications are that Van de Ven and Vuskovic are all in on Spurs and returning to play under Roberto De Zerbi for a full season in 2026/27 despite a bevy of interest from elite clubs around Europe like Real Madrid. Van de Ven, for example, has been fully rejuvenated under De Zerbi, as his hunger is back after Thomas Frank nearly killed his drive.

Liverpool are a threat to Tottenham

That said, Premier League transfer insider Ben Jacobs revealed something both interesting and concerning on the Born 'n Red YouTube channel. Jacobs is reporting that if 2024/25 Premier League champions Liverpool were to make a move for Micky van de Ven, he would move in a heart beat. Per Jacobs, Van de Ven and his family are all life long Liverpool fans, and he would absolutely want an Anfield transfer if it were to materialize.

As such, Tottenham Hotspur are working hard to make sure Van de Ven is not tempted or even in a position to lead. Having dropped the ball on signing him to a new deal this season due to their own incompetence and turmoil on the pitch, especially under Thomas Frank, Tottenham are pushing harder to sign Micky van de Ven to a new deal this summer. And Jacobs notes that VDV is very much enjoying his football at Spurs under Roberto De Zerbi, which is plain to see.

Liverpool have been consistently linked to Van de Ven over the years and nearly signed him from Wolfsburg before Spurs sealed the brilliant deal. Arne Slot's surprise late dismissal from Liverpool may reduce the Reds chances from the vantage point that he has a special relationship with Dutch player, but Andoni Iraola is a better manager so that point is a wash. Spurs need to make sure they don't give VDV any reason to doubt or Liverpool any opening to sign a necessary center back to replace free agent departure Ibrahima Konate.