Tottenham Hotspur have made a strong start to the season after winning the Europa League last term.
Spurs are planning for another busy window. They are looking to secure the long-term future of one of their key midfielders.
The new head coach Thomas Frank has kept a mostly settled midfield from the 2024–25 campaign, with the loan addition of Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich providing a boost.
The Portugal international has impressed since arriving in North London.
Palhinha scored in Tottenham’s surprise 2-0 away win over Manchester City and has started five matches for the club this season.
Tottenham have an option to buy the midfielder at the end of the campaign. That clause would cost around £27 million, according to reports. However, the club are now looking to act sooner.
According to TBR Football (via GIVEMESPORT), Spurs plan to open negotiations with Bayern in January to make the move permanent ahead of schedule.
Bayern Munich are expected to be open to early discussions. Palhinha failed to settle in Germany after joining from Fulham in the summer of 2024.
The Bundesliga side paid €51 million for the player after he led the Premier League in tackles across two consecutive seasons.
But his first year in Munich was a difficult one. Palhinha made just 25 appearances and did not score or assist a single goal. He only started eight matches across all competitions.
Since returning to the Premier League, Palhinha has quickly re-established himself.
He played the full 90 minutes in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Brighton at the weekend. And he is becoming a regular in Frank’s midfield setup. At 30, Palhinha still has plenty to offer.
Tottenham may also lose Yves Bissouma next summer, with the Mali international out of contract at the end of the season.
Securing Palhinha for under £30 million would represent smart business for Spurs as they prepare for future changes in midfield.
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