'Of course!' Bayern director reveals club will pursue Premier League star

James Shearman

• Updated: 14 Nov 2023 09:41 GMT
• 3 min read

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has revealed that Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha is still on the club's wishlist.

Munich moved for Palhinha in the summer transfer window as head coach Thomas Tuchel was keen for a new holding midfielder.

The Portugal international was in Munich on Deadline Day, ready to complete a £56 million move, but Fulham ultimately pulled the plug.

READ: Ratcliffe's Man Utd investment will have Ten Hag fearing for his job

He has since signed a five-year contract extension at the Premier League club but that has not deterred Bayern.

"Of course, he is still on our radar. The club worked intensively with Palhinha in the summer," Freund told BILD.

"I was there for the bit on the last, strange day of the transfer window, but you can't say yet what will happen. We are generally exploring the market."

Palhinha could be the missing piece for Bayern, who addressed their centre forward need by signing Tottenham legend Harry Kane.

Palhinha on failed Bayern move

Joao Palhinha spoke to Portuguese media about his failed move to Bayern and the possibility of making the move in the future.

"I don’t know what will happen in the future," he told O Jogo this week. "Obviously, it’s really affected me and my family, but that’s all in the past, I don’t want to think about it too much.

"It’s a great source of pride, you know what happened. In my life everything that has happened has been for a reason, I like to think of it like that.

"The future will tell me whether what happened was really what had to happen or not, but only the future will show me that.

"I want to keep going the way I’ve been going, nobody has given me anything throughout my career, and everything I’ve achieved is down to my worth, my work. I hope it stays that way.

"I’m 28, but I know I can go higher and I’m looking to the future with that ambition."