Despite their best efforts, Bayern Munich failed to sign Fulham midfielder João Palhinha on what proved to be a dramatic transfer deadline day for Die Rekordmeister. Nevertheless, it had seemed that both Bayern and Palhinha were hopeful of ensuring that a deal could be made in January.
However, on Thursday, Fulham announced that the Portuguese international had extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2028. Therefore, it is now unknown whether Palhinha intends to make a move to Bayern during the winter transfer window.
Nevertheless, as reported by Bild, the reason that a new deal for the defensive midfielder has been agreed is due to the fact that Palhinha is not a top earner for the Cottagers. While the 28-year-old has been a consistent performer for the Premier League outfit, his wages compared to those around him in the Fulham squad have not reflected that.
This would indicate that Bayern are not ruling out a move for Palhinha, but it would improve Fulham’s negotiating power in January. For Bayern, the three months they now have until the January window opens could act as a possible opportunity to search for cheaper and younger alternatives to Palhinha.
GGFN | Will Shopland
