Report: Tottenham Hotspur wavering on keeping Bayern Munich loanee João Palhinha

SB Nation

Just a couple of months ago, Bayern Munich loanee João Palhinha looked like a fit with Tottenham Hotspur and and it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that that he would make a permanent move to London

next season.

Not so fast.

Things have changed and, now, Palhinha could be deemed unnecessary to have on the roster under Thomas Frank per a report from Tz:

Under manager Thomas Frank, Tottenham have yet to find a clear sporting identity. Palhinha, valued for his defensive qualities, may not be a perfect fit for the dynamic, high-intensity system that Frank prefers. The Dane has doubts about whether Palhinha can play a key role in the team in the long term. The midfield partnership with Rodrigo Bentancur, in particular, is considered too defensive internally. Despite inconsistent form, Bentancur continues to enjoy the manager’s confidence, which further complicates Palhinha’s position.

Adding to that, Tottenham might simply prefer to go with younger, less expensive players at the position:

Adding to the challenge is the intense competition in Spurs’ midfield. Young talents like Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are pushing for more playing time, and Pape Matar Sarr could also play a role after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. Tottenham plans to nurture the development of these young players and is also considering signing another midfielder in January.

Another factor influencing Palhinha’s future is Spurs’ financial considerations. Although the transfer fee of around €30 million seems relatively moderate for an experienced Premier League player, Palhinha’s salary would place him among the highest earners in the squad. Tottenham are keen to control the club’s wage structure, which complicates the decision to make a permanent signing.

This complicated matters for Bayern Munich, who also could not find a valid reason to keep Palhinha on the roster. Palhinha’s total financial package is €7.95 million (salary) + €1.9 million (bonus structure) per Capology. Palhinha’s contract also runs through 2028, which could make it even more difficult to unload him.

Clearly, Max Eberl has some work ahead of him.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…