Levy uses positive Bayern Munich relationship to secure new Tottenham transfer
Joao Palhinha is set to return to the Premier League with Tottenham.
The former Fulham man left England last summer to join Bayern Munich, but he has failed to establish himself as a regular feature within Vincent Kompany’s side.
Tottenham have now agreed a deal to bring Palhinha back to London on a season-long loan, as they look to bolster their midfield ranks ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Thomas Frank will be familiar with the 30-year-old, having previously lined up against him with his Brentford teams, and the Dane now looks set to get the chance to work with the midfielder.
This article includes exclusive comment from former Tottenham scout Bryan King.
Palhinha deal at £26million would be good business for Spurs
As reported by Fabrizio Romano (31 July), Spurs will have an option to sign Palhinha for £26million.
Bayern Munich paid almost double that price for the Portugal international last summer, but have now decided to significantly reduce their demands in a bid to get him off their books.
- £20m – The fee Fulham paid to sign Palhinha from Sporting CP in 2022
- £47.16m – The fee Bayern paid to take him to Germany last summer
- £21.69m – Bayern are now demanding less than half of what they paid to let Palhinha leave
Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that Daniel Levy has used Spurs’ positive relationship with Bayern to secure Palhinha’s signing.
“Spurs seem to have quite a good relationship with Bayern Munich with Eric Dier and Harry Kane going there,” King said.
“If he (Palhinha) is available for that kind of money, and Bayern Munich think he’s a player that isn’t going to be in their starting XI, then it will be a decent move for Tottenham because he’s a good player.
“He’s got to be guaranteed football. At this moment in time, Tottenham have got an awful lot of players on their books.
“They’re definitely going to have to start shifting some players before you can even start thinking and saying to a player that he’ll be in the starting XI.”
Palhinha would walk into Tottenham’s midfield
Tottenham appear keen to get Yves Bissouma off their books this summer. However, even if Bissouma remains in North London, Palhinha will surely be a starter at Tottenham.
The Portuguese excelled during his stint at Craven Cottage, and he possesses the level of quality that would likely see him slot straight into Frank’s starting XI this term.
He is a level above Rodrigo Bentancur, while he would also provide far greater experience than the likes of Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall.
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