Man Utd get Amrabat alternative option for January but face Bayern bid
Robin Bairner
- 6 Sept 2023 13:01 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United ultimately landed Sofyan Amrabat on Transfer Deadline Day, but they did so with a loan deal that offers them two exit clauses should the Morocco international star fail to fire in the way that manager Erik ten Hag wishes.
The first of Man Utd’s get-out opportunities is in January, when they can send Amrabat back to Fiorentina, and the pressure will be on the 28-year-old to perform at Old Trafford given the revelation that another leading midfielder has opened the door to a move.
The Athletic reports that Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha was keen on a move to Old Trafford in the summer.
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January, though, could be the last opportunity that Man Utd have to get their hands on the 28-year-old, who impressed during his first season in the Premier League with the Cottagers.
Bayern Munich made a serious bid to land Palhinha in the summer and only came up short of completing a deal when Fulham failed to find a replacement on Deadline Day.
Bayern, meanwhile, are operating a midfielder down given that they offloaded Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool, regardless of missing out on their top target.
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Bayern back for Palhinha
According to the Evening Standard, Thomas Tuchel’s side are ready to move for the Portuguese again during the January transfer window. At this point, a deal should be possible because Fulham should be able to secure a replacement.
This deal could see a string of transfer dominos fall, but in what order is unclear.
Both Fulham and Bayern Munich have been linked with Man Utd’s Scott McTominay, and the Scotland international could feasibly move to either depending on Palhinha’s transfer.
If the Fulham man goes to Man Utd, McTominay could well be on his way to Bayern, while the opposite case is also true.
Either way, Palhinha is a player already coming into focus as one to watch in January.
