The Lilywhites are engaging in discussions to secure the services of a central player that the North London side were unable to finalise terms with some time ago.
The Gunners already boast a high-profile addition in that area of the field, specifically Martin Zubimendi, yet they had identified another prospect to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s options.
They ultimately failed to complete the transfer, however, and may now face the unpleasant situation of seeing their previous target arrive nearby with their fierce adversaries.
The Lilywhites to acquire Joao Palhinha, eluding the North London Club
The initial season for Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha in the German league hasn’t completely materialized as anticipated, as he’s been unable to move ahead of figures such as Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Konrad Laimer, among others, in the hierarchy under Vincent Kompany.
This situation, as indicated in a Bild report, spurred the North London Club to assess the former Fulham player’s potential acquisition, thoroughly examining the financial details of a possible agreement; however, this never came to pass.
As of now, The Athletic reports that Tottenham, a rival team, is in discussions with the German club to potentially loan Palhinha, preferring this over a full transfer.
This approach could reflect a recent agreement Spurs finalized with the same team, which involved securing Mathys Tel on loan before eventually completing a permanent acquisition this summer.
Palhinha’s current Bayern contract has three years remaining; however, after only making 25 appearances across all competitions last season, questions arise about his long-term position at the Allianz Arena.
The 30-year-old joined Kompany’s team just a year ago, in what The Athletic reports as a significant deal worth approximately €51m.
According to FourFourTwo, Palhinha’s potential acquisition might not immediately excite the Spurs supporters, but he could fulfill a specific requirement within the team.
While the team has a considerable amount of attacking talent, further enhanced by the addition of Mohammed Kudus, there is a recognized need for increased resilience in the midfield, a quality that has been missed since Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s departure to Marseille last year.
There is hope that the young player Archie Gray will eventually develop the ability to shoulder that responsibility independently. However, while he adapts and evolves within the top tier of English soccer, it would be beneficial for Spurs to integrate an experienced Premier League player such as Palhinha.
Transfermarkt assesses Palhinha’s value at €30m.
