TalkSPORT understands Tottenham are considering signing Joao Palhinha on a permanent basis.
Spurs have a £26m option to buy on Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich, but he has lost his place in Thomas Frank’s starting XI.
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The 30-year-old has played 19 Premier League games under Frank this season, scoring two goals and picking up two assists.
However, he was on the bench in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland.
Palhinha joined the north London club on a season-long contract in the summer, with the intention of making the deal permanent at the end of the season.
This seemed pretty certain until recently as fans were excited about the idea.
Bayern Munich paid just under £50m to release him from Fulham in July 2024, but he only stayed in Bavaria for one season.
They soon sent him back to the Premier League and would cut their losses with a big transfer loss if they sold him for just £26 million.
It currently looks as if he could return to Bayern in the summer.
Tottenham’s transfer targets
The Pitch Prospect understands Tottenham have rejected an £8million bid for Brazilian defender Souza from Santos.
The Brazilian club are looking for just under £15 million for the 19-year-old and the north London club are preparing a second offer.
Spurs are looking to strengthen their full-back position with Destiny Udogie sidelined since December and Djed Spence deputizing on the left.
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The Pitch Prospect’s verdict
Alex Crook, The Pitch Prospect’s chief football correspondent, said: “I’m not convinced this is the kind of signing that will necessarily appease Tottenham fans. I think they would like to bring in more experienced and proven players.”
“It’s an interesting scenario with Joao Palhinha, who is obviously on loan from Bayern Munich.
“A few weeks ago it looked like it was a foregone conclusion that Tottenham would trigger the buy option in his £26m deal, but he recently lost his place in the team.
“I just sense that Tottenham are now a little afraid of making this move permanent. So maybe other Premier League clubs could jump in.”
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan added: “They spent a lot in the summer. They spent £200 million. They were the ones who told everyone it was a new dawn.”
“You are the ones who told everyone they wanted to see more trophies. They are the ones who wanted freer activity in the transfer market. Then you have it. He is your manager.”
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“You have taken out Daniel Levy and you want to criticize him or attack him and perhaps try to talk down his shareholding so that you can make another deal with him for his Enic shares.
“The sports director is no longer there. That’s why I feel a bit sorry for Thomas Frank because he’s in a situation where I’m not sure if he’s popular with the current owners because they weren’t the ones who hired him.”