The transfer saga surrounding Joao Palhinha could soon come to an end. The Portuguese player, who was on loan to Tottenham last season, is set to leave FC Bayern and has apparently already reached an agreement with a new club.
Many clubs have recently shown interest in the Portuguese player. Benfica and Sporting from Portugal, two clubs from Italy, and—most notably—Aston Villa and Newcastle were and still are in the running. However, there have been recent indications that Aston Villa, the Birmingham-based team, has gained the upper hand.
As Fabrizio Romano now reports exclusively, Palhinha and Aston Villa are said to have agreed on the contractual details. The Portuguese player and the Europa League champions are thus in agreement regarding a transfer.
Bayern and Aston Villa still need to reach an agreement
This is certainly a clear and significant step forward. No such agreement had been reached with any other club previously. However, there may still be a sticking point, as both clubs still need to reach an agreement.
And most recently, the Premier League club offered only a loan deal. Although it included a purchase option, that is exactly what FC Bayern does not want this summer regarding Palhinha. They want to draw a definitive line under the matter. The record champions demanded 25–30 million euros, and that was exactly too much for Aston Villa.
Not because the money isn’t available, but rather because the Portuguese player is only intended to be a temporary solution—namely, until Amadou Onana, who suffered a torn cruciate ligament, is fit again. Although that won’t happen until toward the end of the season, Bayern doesn’t actually plan to keep Palhinha long-term.
According to Sky, Bayern Munich has rejected an initial offer—a loan with an option to buy. The record champions’ priority remains a permanent transfer. It’s unclear how high the loan fee Aston Villa is offering is.
This is an issue that must now be addressed and discussed in direct talks between the two clubs. In general, however, the door for a transfer is more open than it has been in a long time.