Joao Palhinha tipped to swap Tottenham for Manchester United by former Portugal international.
Tottenham Hotspur’s form has faded in recent weeks, and as a result, they have dropped to the bottom half of the table. One of the key contributors to their initial strong form was the performances of Joao Palhinha.
Joao Palhinha has quickly settled into Thomas Frank’s system at Tottenham after joining on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich in the summer. Many eyebrows were raised when the Lilywhites decided to bring him in over the summer, especially after his disappointing spell at Bayern Munich. But it is fair to say that the 30-year-old has been among the standout performers in the side, making valuable contributions at both ends of the pitch.
Going by his early impressions, it seems likely that the north Londoners will sign him permanently from Bayern. While Palhinha’s form has a dipped a bit lately, like several of his Spurs teammates, his rise in stock in Europe cannot be ignored.
Joao Palhinha has made an instant impact at Tottenham after joining on loan from Bayern
Joao Palhinha has made an instant impact at Tottenham after joining on loan from Bayern
Joao Palhinha tipped to swap Tottenham for Manchester United
Palhinha has quickly become a vital component of this Tottenham side. The Portugal international has already won over the fans with several commanding displays. But now, ex-Spurs midfielder Pedro Mendes has tipped Palhinha to swap the Lilywhites for Manchester United. He has indicated that Manchester United should attempt to sign the 30-year-old, despite being a similar type of player to Manuel Ugarte.
“Palhinha at Man Utd? Well, why not?” Pedro Mendes told Boyle Sports (h/t The Metro).
“To be fair, I think Manuel Ugarte is more or less the same type of player as Palhinha, [but] Palhinha is an option if they want to replace him.
“We are not sure what is going to happen to Casemiro, so I think it (Manchester United signing Palhinha) could work.”
Joao Palhinha has been among the rare bright spots for Tottenham this season
Joao Palhinha has been among the rare bright spots for Tottenham this season
Palhinha has found home at Spurs
Mendes has urged Man United to sign Palhinha because he is unsure whether Casemiro will stay beyond this season or get released. So, someone in the ilk of Palhinha could become a fantastic stop-gap replacement for Casemiro.
However, Palhinha looks settled at Tottenham. The defensive midfielder’s qualities off the ball fully suit Frank’s style of play, thereby, helping him rediscover his mojo. Not only has the Portuguese offered a layer of protection to their backline, but also, he’s registered four goals and three assists thus far. As a result, Spurs want to sign the experienced midfielder permanently and are ready to meet Bayern’s £27m asking price to keep him beyond the season. The player is also reportedly keen to extend his stay in N17.
As things stand, Palhinha is committed to the Tottenham project and remains a key player in Frank’s plans going forward.