FC Bayern is still looking to offload players, and Joao Palhinha is arguably the hottest candidate. There’s a market for him, which isn’t necessarily the case for other players who are likely to leave.
But back to Palhinha. Benfica remains interested in him and is trying to find a way to finance a deal. A loan with a subsequent option or obligation to buy is being planned. Aston Villa is also in the mix and is currently in negotiations with FC Bayern.
These talks aren’t finalized yet, though, and the Birmingham club also believes that a loan would be the smarter option for now. But Bayern Munich doesn’t want that. That’s why the talks are proving so difficult.
Newcastle Joins the Palhinha Poker Game
According to matching reports from the Daily Mail and talkSport, Newcastle United is also said to be in the race for the Portuguese player. According to these reports, the Magpies have now entered the fray and added the player to their shortlist.
Although Newcastle is also courting former Bayern player Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, who currently plays for Olympique Marseille, the departures of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes mean that signing two midfielders is practically a must. This is where Palhinha, with his Premier League experience, comes into play.
The big advantage for Bayern would be that Newcastle can afford a transfer—and is likely willing to pay for one. A transfer fee in the range of 20 million euros would not be an obstacle. That would leave just over 35 million euros available for Höjbjerg and Palhinha. Bayern received nearly 200 million euros from the sales of Tonali and Guimaraes.
The question now is what Palhinha wants. He would take a pay cut for a move back to Portugal, but that currently seems to be the least likely option. If Newcastle decides to make an offer, the Magpies’ chances are certainly not bad.
