Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly look to sign 30-year-old Portuguese international Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Joao Palhinha is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. The Lilywhites are keen on bolstering their first-team squad by signing a dynamic midfielder in the summer transfer window. So, the 30-year-old Bayern Munich misfit has emerged as a target for the North London club.

The Italian journalist has claimed that the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League winners “have genuine interest” in Palhinha, and “initial approach has been made with his camp”. However, with Tottenham yet to contact Bayern Munich for negotiations, the deal will not formalise quickly.

Joao Palhinha and his ill-advised move

Joao Palhinha has been a shell of the domineering midfielder he was in the Premier League since joining Bayern Munich from Fulham in a deal worth €56 million last summer. The wait for Die Roten has not been worth it, as after chasing the Lisbon native for nearly a year before securing his services, the 30-year-old has struggled to make his mark at the Bavarian club, having been in and out of the starting lineup throughout the 2024/25 season.

The Portuguese international has not even managed 1,000 minutes of game time across 25 appearances in all competitions thus far for Bayern Munich. However, Palhinha’s stock in the market remains high, with Premier League clubs, in particular, keen on signing him. Tottenham Hotspur will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the summer transfer window.

London return on the horizon?

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Joao Palhinha makes sense. Yves Bissouma faces an uncertain future at the North London club, as they are ready to part ways with him in the summer transfer window. In addition, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr have not been as consistent as they would have liked.

So, Tottenham can do with a new holding midfielder, with Palhinha emerging as a viable target despite his age profile. The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League winners have now contacted the player’s entourage, and an “initial approach has been made with his camp”. Convincing the former Fulham midfielder may not be a tall order, as recent reports have claimed that he wants to return to London.

However, with Tottenham yet to approach Bayern Munich for formal negotiations, the deal will unlikely see the light of day before the 2025/26 season kicks off. It will be interesting to see how the talks between the three parties progress in the coming weeks.