FC Bayern would like to sell Joao Palhinha on a permanent basis this summer. But Tottenham Hotspur—long considered the most likely buyer—might now be pulling out of the transfer negotiations.
Joao Palhinha is among FC Bayern’s players slated for sale. After his loan to Tottenham Hotspur, the Munich club had hoped for a permanent deal, but the situation could now take a significant turn for the worse.
As reported by The Athletic, the Spurs are on the verge of signing Mateus Fernandes. According to the report, Tottenham and West Ham have already agreed on a transfer fee of 85 million pounds—equivalent to around 98 million euros. The 21-year-old Portuguese player is also said to have agreed to the transfer.
Tottenham is reevaluating its priorities
With Fernandes, Tottenham would break its previous transfer record and, at the same time, sign another central midfielder.
Following Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke, Fernandes would be the club’s fourth signing of the summer. The Spurs’ transfer spending would thus rise to well over 150 million euros.
Given this context, it seems questionable whether the Europa League champions will then invest another 25 to 30 million euros in Palhinha.
Bayern is asking for up to 30 million euros
According to consistent reports, FC Bayern is demanding a transfer fee of between 25 and 30 million euros for the Portuguese national team player. This sum already significantly narrows the field of potential suitors. Although Sporting Lisbon is repeatedly linked to a move to bring him back, a transfer is unlikely to be financially feasible for the top Portuguese club.
In addition to the transfer fee, Palhinha’s salary also poses a major hurdle. The midfielder is reportedly earning around ten million euros per year in Munich—a figure that few clubs outside the Premier League can afford.
If Tottenham were to indeed back away from Palhinha following the signing of Fernandes, the pressure on Bayern Munich to sell would increase further. The Munich club no longer has plans for the 30-year-old and would like to both secure a transfer fee and remove his salary from the payroll.
For Max Eberl and Bayern’s management, this could make the search for a suitable buyer significantly more difficult.