Besiktas eyeing a move for 8/10 loanee who inspired Tottenham to their first win in 2026

Tottenham midfielder has emerged on the radar of Besiktas.

There is already a growing expectation that change is coming at Tottenham Hotspur, with the squad likely to be reshaped.

There are a few players who have been heavily linked with an exit, regardless of Spurs still battling hard to stay in the top flight. And some of those names are Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Then, there are players whose futures at the club are yet to be sorted out. Joao Palhinha appears to be at the top of the heap.

Joao Palhinha arrived at Spurs on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich last summer, given the need for a defensive anchor. The Portugal international quickly became a regular fixture in former boss Thomas Frank’s side, impressing with his ball-winning, physicality and reading of the game. However, the 30-year-old’s form has tailed off since the turn of the year, putting question marks over his long-term future.

On Saturday, though, Palhinha proved his worth by coming off the bench and scoring the winner in the second half against Wolves to hand Tottenham their first league win of 2026. The defensive midfielder guided his team to massive three points that kept the Lilywhites’ survival hopes alive.

Besiktas keen on signing Joao Palhinha

Tottenham are contemplating whether to sign Palhinha on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich or not, but that hasn’t stopped other clubs from looking at him as a potential option to strengthen their squads.

According to Turkish newspaper Sabah (h/t Aspor), Besiktas are eyeing a move for Palhinha. They are closely following the midfielder’s situation and plan to make a move this summer. Tottenham’s position at the end of the campaign is considered to be a ‘decisive factor’ in this transfer.

Besiktas are planning to upgrade their No.6 position, and the manager Sergen Yalcin is an admirer of Palhinha’s skill set. If Tottenham get relegated, the Portuguese star is expected to return to Bayern Munich. The German club’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, has recently acknowledged the difficulty of the player’s position, keeping the door wide open for a return.

Palhinha, who delivered an 8/10 rating vs. Wolves, will have a decision to make in the summer. There is still no sense of assurance that he will be staying at N17 beyond the ongoing campaign, given Tottenham feels that the pre-agreed €25-30m asking fee is a bit much for a player set to turn 31 in July.

It is unlikely for the Spurs bosses to make a concrete decision on the Bayern loanee’s future. Besiktas are keeping tabs on the developments, and there are chances of more clubs joining the race for Palhinha’s signature.