Joao Palhinha is still set to leave FC Bayern. While club officials are pushing for a sale, Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg takes a surprisingly different view.
At FC Bayern, everything continues to point toward a parting of ways with Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese national team player no longer features in Munich’s plans for the upcoming season and is considered a clear candidate for a sale. Recently, reports of a move to Aston Villa have intensified.
Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg, however, wouldn’t have written off the midfielder so quickly. The transfer insider made it clear that, despite his difficult time in Munich, he still considers the 31-year-old to be valuable: “I’d keep him, but Bayern isn’t having any of that. I have no say at Bayern. Joao Palhinha is definitely on the chopping block and has no future with the German record champions. It’s a shame, to be honest.”
Bayern Sticks to Its Transfer Fee Demand
According to reports from Portugal, a move to Aston Villa is in the final stages. Following Amadou Onana’s serious injury, the English club is looking for a quick reinforcement in central midfield and has identified Palhinha as their preferred option.
However, negotiations are still ongoing. According to Plettenberg, Bayern has not yet budged on its transfer fee demand.
“Bayern are asking for a lot. They’re demanding a transfer fee of at least around 20 million euros. I don’t think they’ll get that. We’ll have to wait and see—the poker game is still on,” Plettenberg explained.
Most recently, A Bola reported that the record champions might be willing to compromise on the transfer structure. While Munich originally preferred a permanent sale or a loan with an obligation to buy, a purchase option is now reportedly also a possibility—provided that Aston Villa covers the Portuguese player’s entire salary.
Palhinha’s contract with FC Bayern runs through 2028. On the field, however, his future at Säbener Straße appears to have already been decided. The club’s management is counting on Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Tom Bischof in central midfield. Should Bayern reach an agreement with Aston Villa on the financial terms, the 31-year-old is expected to leave the record champions in the coming days.