Tottenham Step Up Pursuit of Joao Palhinha as Bayern Slashes Asking Price
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to intensify negotiations to sign Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich, following revelations by journalist Christian Falk that the German club is willing to take a significant financial hit to offload the midfielder.
Palhinha, who joined Bayern from Fulham for £48 million last summer, has struggled to make an impact and is now on Spurs’ radar.
New Spurs boss Thomas Frank, brought in to replace Ange Postecoglou, is seeking to rebuild and address the squad’s physical shortcomings in midfield—a key issue that contributed to the club’s poor 17th-place finish last season.
Frank has identified Palhinha as a perfect solution to this problem and has reportedly received positive signals from the player and Bayern Munich about a potential move.
Despite Palhinha’s reputation as one of the Premier League’s most physical midfielders during his time at Fulham, he failed to impress at Bayern, starting just nine matches across all competitions and struggling with injury setbacks.
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany has preferred other midfield options, and with the Portuguese international limited to just 25 appearances, the club is now eager to part ways.
Bayern’s asking price has significantly dropped to around £22–£26 million, according to Falk, and they are open to selling him this summer.
Should the deal go through, Chelsea’s Renato Veiga is reportedly being considered as a potential replacement at the Allianz Arena.
Palhinha, while expressing a desire to fight for his place at Bayern, remains a realistic target for Spurs.
Tottenham see him as an ideal anchor in midfield, drawing comparisons to past club stalwarts like Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama.
Though known for his aggressive play—evidenced by 27 bookings in two seasons at Fulham—his tenacity is exactly what Spurs have lacked.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s transfer activity continues elsewhere. The club is attempting to hijack a Paris Saint-Germain move for a high-profile Premier League defender and remains in pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White.
Despite legal challenges from Nottingham Forest, Gibbs-White is reportedly eager to finalize his move to North London.
A £50 million-rated Premier League forward also remains keen to play under Frank, though Spurs risk losing him to a rival.
Back in midfield, Archie Gray is admired by Frank but seen as too lightweight for a central holding role.
The failed deal for Real Betis’ Johnny Cardoso has further highlighted the need for reinforcement, making the Palhinha pursuit all the more urgent.
If completed, Palhinha’s signing would mark a significant reshaping of Tottenham’s midfield—an area clearly in need of reinvention.
