Manchester United are already exploring the market for a third midfield signing after completing deals for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
Several highly rated midfielders, including Carlos Baleba, Alex Scott and Manu Kone, continue to be linked with a move to Old Trafford.
INEOS have already caught many supporters by surprise after securing the unexpected signings of Santos and Tielemans.
Another surprise arrival could now be on the cards, with Joao Palhinha emerging as a realistic option.
Earlier today, The Athletic revealed that Aston Villa are in talks to sign Palhinha from Bayern Munich on loan.
The experienced midfielder spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.
He played an important role in helping Spurs retain their Premier League status, but he ultimately failed to convince the club to pursue a permanent deal.
Palhinha also brings extensive Premier League experience after two impressive seasons with Fulham.
While Santos and Tielemans offer composure and technical quality, United are still missing a genuine midfield enforcer.
The Portugal international won 61 per cent of his duels while averaging more than 12 defensive actions per 90 minutes last season.
He also averaged almost five tackles per match, although his distribution remains one of the weaker aspects of his game.
Palhinha may not be the glamour signing supporters dream about, but he could become an extremely valuable addition if INEOS want to reserve the bulk of their transfer budget for a marquee attacker.
United also remain interested in securing the signature of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.
Adding Rogers alongside the club’s midfield reinforcements would give manager Michael Carrick a frighteningly talented attack capable of challenging for the Premier League title.
Stats from Fotmob.com