Manchester City eyes £50m move for Fulham midfield maestro Joao Palhinha in January
Manchester City are reportedly preparing a £50 million bid to sign Fulham maestro Joao Palhinha in the upcoming January transfer window in a bid to improve their midfield ranks. The 28-year-old Portuguese central midfielder is emerging as City’s top target as they seek to build up their squad for the crucial second half of the season.
With potential suitors Juventus and Bayern Munich interested in Kalvin Phillips, Pep Guardiola has a plan to find a better substitute, and Palhinha fits the bill well. Despite prior interest from Chelsea and Liverpool, the former Sporting player’s fate seems to be heading to the Etihad.
Particularly, Chelsea’s interest decreased as manager Mauricio Pochettino resisted adding more midfielders. Liverpool, too, moved their focus elsewhere, leaving Fulham manager Marco Silva worried about keeping Palhinha in the face of City’s impending interest.
City is also interested in Fluminense’s Andre, a 22-year-old rising Brazilian sensation. Andre, who is valued at £30 million, is not just a possible target for City but also a target for Fulham, who are looking for a long-term replacement for Palhinha.
This transfer story adds an additional layer of intrigue, given City’s previous attempts, such as the failed £70 million deal for Lucas Paqueta owing to an FA investigation into interest betting breaches.
Palhinha’s likely move to Bayern Munich also fell through in the previous transfer window, placing the midfielder in danger as City enters the fight with a large £50 million proposal. The January transfer window promises to be an exciting chapter in the going on football drama.
See More:
- Guardiola feels Man City “deserved” to draw with Crystal Palace
- Pep Guardiola admits Man City may need replacement if Kalvin Phillips leaves
