Joao Palhinha is nearing a move to Bayern Munich with his two-year spell at Fulham set to come to an end.
Palhinha Set for Bundesliga Move
Transfer Saga Set to Come to an End
Bayern are all but ready to welcome Palhinha to the Allianz Arena, with Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany reporting on July 3 that a “breakthrough in negotiations” was reached between the Bavarians and Fulham in the early hours of the morning.
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Plettenberg says that the two parties have agreed on a fee of £39 million plus bonuses for the Portugal midfielder, who they came very close to signing in August 2023, but the move fell through on deadline day as Fulham failed to find a direct replacement for the 28-year old.
In this situation, many players would have refused to play to try and force the move, but Palhinha, who is described as a “defensive midfield monster“, remained professional with the Cottagers, going on to play 36 matches in all competitions as Marco Silva’s side finished 13th in the Premier League in 2023/24.
Bayern Continue to Stock Up on Talent
Palhinha’s expected arrival in Munich will certainly excite Bayern fans, as he’ll strengthen an already stacked midfield department that includes Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Aleksandar Pavlovic.
However, Fabrizio Romano revealed on July 1 that Kimmich will be assessing options over his future once the Euros is over, the Italian journalist hinting that the Premier League could be a destination for the 29-year-old, so Bayern’s move for Palhinha could be a safety net transfer should Kimmich depart this summer.
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Whether the German international leaves Bayern this summer or not, the club’s signing of Palhinha indicates Die Roten’s intention to get themselves back on top of the Bundesliga tree after faltering in 2023/24.
