‘Approaches made’ – Aston Villa and Brighton eye shock bids for £44m Bayern Munich megastar, the player will love to work with Emery
Aston Villa are reportedly among a host of Premier League clubs who have made enquiries to Bayern Munich regarding the availability of Portuguese defensive midfielder João Palhinha, with a potential summer transfer in the works.
Villa boss Unai Emery is known for placing great importance on midfield balance, particularly in deploying a double pivot in front of the backline – a structure central to his tactical system. Although Villa already boast an impressive roster of central midfielders including Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, Amadou Onana, and Ross Barkley, Emery appears intent on adding further depth and experience to this area of the pitch. The manager believes that having multiple high-calibre options at the base of midfield is essential to sustaining performance levels across all competitions.
Palhinha, who was signed by Bayern Munich from Fulham last summer in a £44 million deal, has not had the expected impact in Germany. His debut season with the Bundesliga giants was hampered by injuries, and the 29-year-old struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. He managed fewer than 1,000 minutes across all competitions and made just six starts in the Bundesliga. With playing time scarce and new manager Vincent Kompany looking to shape the squad to his own vision, Palhinha could be one of the high-profile names to depart the Allianz Arena in this transfer window.
According to Sport Bild, via their Bayern Insider Podcast, Aston Villa have already made contact with Bayern Munich to explore the possibility of bringing Palhinha back to England. Villa, however, are not alone in their pursuit. Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester United, and West Ham United have all reportedly registered interest in the midfielder. Fulham – the club where Palhinha made a significant impression in the Premier League – are also likely to monitor the situation closely and could even be tempted to launch a bid of their own.
At this stage, it remains uncertain whether Bayern are open to selling Palhinha, and if so, what valuation they would place on him. Given his limited role under Kompany and the significant investment the club made just a year ago, Bayern may be open to negotiating a deal – especially if they receive an offer that aligns with their financial expectations.
Should Palhinha join Villa Park, his arrival could have significant implications for the club’s current midfield setup, particularly in relation to Boubacar Kamara. The Frenchman is a favourite of Emery and is considered a key part of the team, but there is uncertainty surrounding his long-term future. Despite being offered a new and improved contract several months ago, Kamara has yet to commit to fresh terms. With under two years remaining on his current deal, Villa may be forced to consider cashing in on him this summer if no agreement is reached.
Losing Kamara would be a considerable blow for Villa, both technically and symbolically. However, his sale could bring in a substantial transfer fee, helping the club remain compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and UEFA’s squad cost regulations ahead of a demanding season in both domestic and European competitions.
While Palhinha may not possess Kamara’s elegance on the ball or his dribbling ability, his defensive acumen is elite. During his final season with Fulham in the Premier League, the Portugal international ranked in the top three per cent of all defensive midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for key defensive metrics – including 75 tackles won, 259 duels won, and 46 interceptions. His 195 ball recoveries also placed him well above the 90th percentile of his peers.
In essence, Villa’s interest in Palhinha appears to be a strategic move aimed at adding a seasoned, combative presence to Emery’s midfield engine room. While a deal is far from done, the coming weeks could be decisive as Bayern field offers and the player considers whether a return to England could be the right step to revive his career.