Tottenham have received a massive boost in their pursuit of Bayern Munich misfit Joao Palhinha, as Arsenal have pulled out of the race.

According to a report from Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Tottenham held fresh talks with Bayern Munich this week as they look to sign Joao Palhinha. They have received a significant boost in their pursuit as the Portuguese international is keen on securing a return to London.

Palhinha made quite a name for himself while playing for Fulham. On the back of his impressive performances for the English outfit, Bayern Munich forked out £47 million to add him to their squad last summer. Unfortunately, the move has not worked out as he struggled with injuries and failed to impress Vincent Kompany.

The 30-year-old defensive midfielder made a handful of appearances for them, and he even ended up losing his spot in the Portugal national team. Joao Palhinha is eager to have regular minutes under his belt next season. He is aware that it might happen under Kompany; as a result, he is ready to leave Bayern Munich.

Tottenham closing in on Palhinha’s signature

The German giants are also ready to sanction his departure as long as they can recoup a significant part of the £47 million they had invested 12 months ago. Tottenham have emerged as the front-runners for his signature. The North London club are on the lookout for a new holding midfielder as they are set to part ways with Yves Bissouma.

While they also have Douglas Luiz on their radar, Joao Palhinha seems to be quite high on their wishlist. Spurs held fresh talks with Bayern this week as they push for the 30-year-old’s signature. The former Fulham star has dropped a hint that he might be keen on joining them.

Inter Milan are also interested in his signature, but he has indicated that a move back to London would appeal to him. Following those talks, Palhinha appears to be a strong option for Thomas Frank’s team. Since he is a proven Premier League star, he could certainly prove to be a valuable addition to their squad.

While Arsenal were also interested in his signature, they have cooled their interest after securing the services of Christian Norgaard from Brentford in a deal worth around £15 million. The Gunners have their midfield sorted for next season and won’t cause any problems for rivals Tottenham.