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Tottenham to open formal talks with Bundesliga giants for star midfielder

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated Nov 11, 2025 3:46 PM ET

Italian journalist claims Tottenham are planning to hold talks with Bayern Munich to sign Joao Palhinha permanently

Tottenham Hotspur made some impressive signings in Thomas Frank’s first transfer window as their head coach, and Joao Palhinha is arguably the pick of the bunch.

Joao Palhinha signed on loan from Bayern Munich with an option to buy for around £27 million. The defensive midfielder has been central to Spurs’ strong start to the campaign which sees them in fifth spot in the Premier League, a point behind surprise-package Sunderland, who are in fourth. He has brought quality and experience to Tottenham’s midfield, which is exactly why Thomas Frank pushed for the 30-year-old’s signature.

The Portuguese has proven to be a real coup for the north Londoners, making a difference with his reading of the game, experience and ball-winning skills. Not only has he made an impact while protecting the backline, but also Palhinha has contributed at the offensive end of the pitch with four goals and two assists in 19 appearances.

Tottenham set to open talks with Bayern Munich for Palhinha’s permanent signing

No wonder, Palhinha is one of the first names on Thomas Frank’s teamsheet. He has drawn a fair amount of praise since making the move from Bayern Munich, with former England goalkeeper Joe Hart hailing Tottenham’s deal to sign the midfielder.

The experienced Portuguese has settled in quickly at Spurs, building a strong partnership with Rodrigo Bentancur in the engine room. Given his impact, the Lilywhites see themselves in a strong position to activate the £27m buy option that was a part of the loan deal. And Palhinha is very much open to staying in north London beyond the end of the 25/26 campaign.

According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira on X, Tottenham are set to open formal discussions with Bayern to sign Palhinha permanently until 2029, having been very satisfied with the player’s performances.

Instead of triggering the £27m buy option, Spurs could negotiate fresh terms over a lower fee with Bayern. There could be room to get a better deal and the Europa League champions must push for it. Whether the Bavarian giants would agree remains unclear considering Palhinha’s current form. A permanent move is very much on the cards, although Frank decided to stay quiet last week when asked about Tottenham’s plans to sign him.

Palhinha has proven that he can perform at a high level consistently for Tottenham. All eyes will now be on the Hotspur Way chiefs over their actions regarding the enforcer’s future.

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

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