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Tottenham must sell to buy Bundesliga enforcer- Alasdair Gold

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 7:04 PM ET

Tottenham have held talks with Bayern Munich to understand the details over a potential deal for Joao Palhinha

After strengthening the defensive and attacking units with the signings of Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus, respectively, Tottenham Hotspur are keen to add to their midfield options this summer for new boss Thomas Frank.

Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White has emerged as the North London outfit’s top midfield target. They have triggered the player’s £60m release clause, but a deal has been put on hold due to legal complaint from Forest. Regardless of whatever happens with the Gibbs-White saga, the Hotspur Way chiefs are also planning to bring in a defensive midfielder this summer.

As such, Spurs have set their sights on Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha. The Portugal international, during his two-year spell with Fulham, established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League, leading to a move to Bayern Munich last summer.

Despite winning the Bundesliga title in his debut season, he failed to cement his position as a regular starter under Vincent Kompany. Injury problems, combined with intense competition in his position, limited Joao Palhinha to just six starts in the Bundesliga. For a player at the peak of his powers, it was simply not enough, and as a result, he could be on the move from Bavaria.

Tottenham must sell to buy Joao Palhinha

Spurs officials have held talks with Bayern Munich officials over the terms required to strike a deal for Palhinha. Following discussions with the German champions, it has emerged that they are not willing to sanction a loan deal for the 30-year-old enforcer. The Lilywhites will have to table a big-money bid to sign him from Bayern.

As the Portuguese still has three years remaining on his contract, the Bavarian giants hold the power to ask for a sizeable fee to let go him this summer. And with regards to Tottenham’s interest in the ex-Sporting CP man, a new update has come to everyone’s notice.

According to Football London journalist Alasdair Gold, the Lilywhites must first sell a midfielder before getting Palhinha’s deal done.

Joao Palhinha has qualities to improve Thomas Frank’s Spurs

Yves Bissouma, Archie Gray, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall are the current central midfield options, while James Maddison can also operate in a deeper role. The Hotspur Way bosses must offload one of them to make room for Palhinha, and Bissouma appears likely to leave the club during this transfer window. The Mali international is wanted by Fenerbahce, and if Spurs can quickly move him on, they must aim to wrap up a deal for Palhinha.

At 30, Palhinha does not fit the criteria of signings that the capital club have been making in recent years, with Levy focused more on nurturing youth. But, the ex-Fulham man could become an effective stopgap solution to the team’s glaring issue in midfield, whilst mentoring Gray. By the time he reaches 33, Gray would become ready to start and control games as a single pivot. Hence, the Tottenham chairman must not hesitate to go all out for the Portuguese’s signature.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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