Manchester City are allegedly interested in Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha after losing interest in Lucas Paqueta.
Last month, it was claimed that City were still interested in signing Paqueta from West Ham United. However, that attempt appeared to be contingent on the player clearing the suspicious betting activity against him.
According to the Daily Star, City could make a £50 million bid for Joao Palhinha in January, after the Portugal international excelled at Craven Cottage…
Manchester City are interested in Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
As per the report, the 28-year-old is currently regarded as the top choice available. There are expectations that Kalvin Phillips will depart from Manchester City in January, drawing interest from clubs like Juventus and Newcastle United.
Pep Guardiola is reportedly eager to secure a replacement of superior quality. Palhinha, who joined Fulham from Sporting CP in the summer of 2021, has accumulated 55 appearances across all competitions. While he has scored six goals, his defensive prowess is particularly highlighted, with Sky Sports describing him in March as, “(He is) a master of anticipation, extending his long legs at precisely the right moment to dispossess unsuspecting opponents.”
READ ALSO: TRANSFER NEWS: Wolves £35m Star Poised for January Exit with various Options on the Horizon
Interestingly, according to FBref data, Palhinha has a higher percentage of dribbles tackled compared to Rodri in the current Premier League season (66% vs. 60%). Impressively, he has made more than double the number of tackles Rodri has (76 to 32).
Palhinha would be an exceptional addition, yet the prospect seems highly unlikely.
The idea of City securing Palhinha in January is enticing, given his established status as one of the premier holding midfielders in the Premier League.
However, the reality is quite different.
Fulham is unlikely to entertain the notion of losing one of their key players mid-season. Sanctioning Palhinha’s departure could potentially plunge them into a relegation battle rather than contending for European spots.
Moreover, the £80,000-a-week player may be cautious about joining City and potentially playing second fiddle to Rodri. At Fulham, he holds a pivotal role, and it’s reasonable to assume he would prefer to maintain that position for a while longer.
READ ALSO: West Ham United Puts Up £25,000 Reward in Hunt for Answers Following Burglary at Kurt’s Residence
