Tottenham fans adamant on Joao Palhinha situation amid new theory

Tottenham Hotspur fans think they might have cracked the code on Joao Palhinha's future.

The midfielder is set to return to parent club Bayern Munich this summer, after a loan spell in North London.

Following his return, the 30-year-old has been linked with a move back to former club Sporting.

Signing for Bayern Munich in 2024, Palhinha would endure a difficult time in Bavaria, resulting in his loan switch to Spurs.

It would not be plain sailing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium either, with the midfielder coming under fierce criticism for large parts of the term, before he did improve under Roberto De Zerbi.

However, Spurs fans now think that they may have discovered where his future lies.

Tottenham fans analyse Joao Palhinha hint in kit reveal

It has been a fantastic week for fans in North London, as they have seen their club linked with the likes of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Said El Mala.

With the Lilywhites seemingly showing serious ambition under De Zerbi, the excitement is building for the new campaign, which has been further exacerbated by the kit reveal - always an exciting day on the calendar.

Spurs fans, though, would spot something interesting on the club's official website, with Palhinha's name available in the printing section.

Palhinha is available, but Randal Kolo Muani is not, with the Frenchman returning to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

Supporters would point out that loan deals officially expire at the end of June, before the response pointed out the interesting fact of only one out of the two being available for printing.

One fan would respond in criticism of Kolo Muani, before jokingly questioning who Tottenham's number 21 is.

Dejan Kulusevski has spent over 13 months on the sidelines, and is working towards a recovery.

However, given the context of the last year for Spurs, the Swede seems like a distant memory.

The Palhinha theory would remain a topic on social media, with supporters suggesting that Spurs could be hiding something.

Turning 31 next month, Palhinha could still be an important squad player for Spurs, though the deal would have to be the right one given his age.

Have Tottenham moved past the need for Palhinha?

The Portuguese midfielder continued to struggle at times last season, and he is not exactly the dynamic ball-playing midfielder needed in De Zerbi's system.

The links with Tonali and Fernandes also point in a certain direction, with it being possible that Spurs have moved on from needing a player of his ilk.

However, despite his lack of abilities in possession, he could still prove his worth in a rotation role, with his defensive excellence being utilised in the latter stages of matches.

But this is very dependent on his own wishes, and the deal itself.

Spurs will not be wanting to spend big money on Palhinha - something that may well be needed, with former club Sporting looking at a deal worth a figure of around £20million.

At the same time, he may not be willing to operate in that mentioned rotation role.

In some aspects, his loan did work in terms of the important goals scored, though he may leave the club as a rather forgettable Tottenham player, should the mentioned improvements make their way this summer.