Arsenal's failed transfer move for Joao Palhinha last summer may come full-circle as Bayern Munich are now looking to offload the Portuguese midfielder after a poor first season.
Palhinha's £47.4m move from Craven Cottage to the Allianz Arena was Fulham's club-record sale. The move had initially fallen through on Bayern's first attempt, but they kept their interest alive as the midfielder continued to be a shining star in Marco Silva's side.
Many other clubs reportedly considered a move for Palhinha with Arsenal being one of them. When the possibility of signing Douglas Luiz looked unlikely, the Fulham midfielder arose as a possible replacement in midfield for the Gunners. Arsenal missed out with Bayern swooping in to sign the now-29-year-old.
Unfortunately for Bayern boss Vincent Kompany, Palhinha has struggled to make an impact. In fact, the midfielder has started just six games in the Bundesliga this season and has registered no goals and no assists across his 23 appearances in all competitions. German news outlet BILD have placed Palhinha in their worst signings of 2024/25 list and have reported that Bayern are now looking to get rid of the midfielder. Despite the negativity surrounding Palhinha, this could be the perfect time for Mikel Arteta to step in.
Jorginho has agreed to not extend his contract with the Gunners and Thomas Partey is looking increasingly closer to leaving the club on a free transfer this summer. This leaves a big hole in Arsenal's midfield with two highly experienced central-players departing Arteta's squad - a hole that Palhinha could partially fill.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 31: Joao Palhinha of Fulham blocks a shot from Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on December 31, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Joao Palhinha signing for Arsenal was predicted by our writers for 2024
While his Bayern spell has disappointed, Palhinha proved himself in the Premier League with Fulham. His ball-winning ability, six-foot-three physical presence and intense work rate made him a hot commodity last summer, and although he hasn't been able to show these skills in Germany, he certainly has them.
Under Arteta, Palhinha could be an immediate replacement for Partey and Jorginho, acting as an anchor in midfield and allowing more attacking-minded midfielder likes Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard the opportunity to push forward.
The 29-year-old has already proven he can handle the pace and intensity of the Premier League with the Cottagers. He also isn't shy in front of goal, having scored eight goals across his two seasons for Fulham. Partey, who plays in a similar role, has scored one more goal than Palhinha in his five seasons with the Gunners.
The elephant in the room for Arteta is Palhinha's price tag. BILD continued to report that Bayern did not want to make a loss on their initial £47.4m investment .It would be a gamble — but the kind that could pay off if Palhinha rediscovered his Premier League form
Of course, there’s a risk Palhinha may never rediscover his Fulham form — but with Arsenal on course for a third straight runners-up finish, calculated risks may be needed to finally go one better.
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