Manchester United are set to get a second bite at Joao Palhinha, with Bayern Munich ready to offload him in the upcoming window.
United attempted to sign Palhinha last summer but he elected to join Bayern after a protracted chase to lure him from Fulham. However, his time so far at Bavaria has proven to be a frustrating one, with just five Bundesliga starts to his name this term.
He has made 14 top-flight appearances and played 21 games across all competitions.
During his time in the Premier League with Fulham, Palhinha cemented his reputation as one of the fiercest midfielders, impressing with his incredible ball-winning ability and gritty performances. He joined the Cottagers from Sporting CP in 2022 in a deal worth around £20m. Bayern paid in excess of £40m to secure his services.
United are expected to be in the market for midfield reinforcements and Palhinha is one they could try to finally land after missing out on him a year ago. Ruben Amorim knows the player well from their successful time together at Estádio José Alvalade.
According to journalist Christian Falk, Bayern are “planning to sell” Palhinha as they gear up for a squad overhaul.
Falk adds, “The club is hoping they’ll still make back some of the €51m [£42m] they paid Fulham in 2024. He’s considered a bit of a flop signing in the Bundesliga.”
“However, he still has a good name in the Premier League (because of his prior performances with the Cottagers), which Bayern hope will be enough to encourage reasonable offers.”
It’s understood that Bayern boss Vincent Kompany is not a fan of the Portugal international and deems him surplus to requirements – a sentiment club bosses share.
Palhinha is believed to be keen on fighting for his place at Bayern but the decision may be taken out of his hands, with the likes of Aleksandar Pavlović and Leon Goretzka all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Whether United revive their interest in the 29-year-old remains to be seen but they could do with a player of his attributes.
As previously noted, he’s an aggressive ball-winner who brings intensity to the midfield. He frequently dives into challenges—often opting for slide tackles to extend his reach—in a bid to shut down opposition attacks.
He is also an effective presser, especially in mid and low block set-ups.
Featured image Sebastian Widmann via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
