FC Bayern is looking to offload one or two more players this summer. A solution is now taking shape for Joao Palhinha, the Portuguese midfielder who was most recently on loan to Tottenham.
In recent days, several clubs have been pushing to sign the experienced Portuguese player. Benfica wants to bring him back to Portugal, Aston Villa sees him as a replacement for the long-term injured Amadou Onana, and Newcastle has also entered the fray.
However, Aston Villa clearly holds the best hand at the moment and is already in intensive talks about a transfer.
FC Bayern: Palhinha’s move to England is getting closer
According to talkSport, the deal is taking on a more concrete form. Bayern and Aston Villa are in talks, and the Birmingham club is making progress. Meanwhile, Newcastle is still looking at other players, while Villa is fully committed to the Palhinha deal.
However, it remains unclear which transfer model will be used. Aston Villa has recently preferred a loan with a subsequent option to buy. FC Bayern wanted—and still wants—to sell Palhinha outright. Max Eberl is working to bring this chapter to a definitive close.
As things stand, a final agreement has not yet been reached. Nevertheless, Aston Villa appears to be increasingly confident. Furthermore, Palhinha would not have to worry about a significant pay cut here. That would have been the case at Benfica, for example. Although the player would have been willing to take a small pay cut, the Premier League option could ultimately prove to be more lucrative for him.
The coming days could now prove decisive in the race for the player. Will Newcastle step up the pace once again and intensify their interest? That could once again influence a deal with Villa, as the Magpies would likely buy the player outright.
