Bayern Munich still want Joao Palhinha despite new Fulham contract

Stuart Telford

• 8 Oct 2023 11:14 BST
• 3 min read

Bayern Munich will go back in for Fulham's Joao Palhinha in January after missing out on him on transfer deadline day, according to a report.

Palhinha had flown into Munich for a medical and Bayern were ready to announce the move before Fulham pulled the plug at the last minute.

The West London cub had wanted to sign Scott McTominay from Manchester as Palhinha's replacement, but when the Scotland international decided to stay at Old Trafford, the stopped the transfer.

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Palhinha has since signed a new five-year contract at Craven Cottage, saying "I'm just focused on my work at Fulham," but Bayern are expected to come back in with an improved offer in January.

Palhina will cost more than £55m

"Bayern Munich have retained an interest in signing João Palhinha during the January transfer window despite the Fulham midfielder signing a new contract to commit himself to Craven Cottage," reports the Telegraph's Mike McGrath.

"It is understood that Palhinha's new deal does not include a release clause, which would have seen a club being granted permission to speak to him when a set fee was officially lodged. Bayern were willing to pay around £55 million for the Portugal international and are likely to need to increase those terms."

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Palhinha is valued at €29.1m (£25.2m) by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, but given Fulham's strong bargaining position and Bayern's need for a defensive midfielder, more than twice that amount will be required.

Thomas Tuchel is understood to see Palhinha's signature as a priority. Bayern have generally paired Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka at defensive midfield this season, but the former Chelsea boss would like to use both further forward.

Konrad Laimer arrived from RB Leipzig this summer, but with Tuchel not fully trusting Noussair Mazraoui, he has spent more time covering at right-back than he has anchoring the midfield.