Bad news for Palhinha: Spurs hold contact over signing £218k-p/w “machine”

After beginning 11 of his first 12 appearances within the Premier League this season, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Joao Palhinha has discovered recreation time more durable to return by of late.

The Portugal worldwide’s begin towards Brentford on Thursday night time was his first within the top-flight since November, as he had been an unused substitute as soon as and got here off the bench thrice in December, per Transfermarkt.

Palhinha has scored 4 targets and offered three assists in all competitions, per Sofascore, however he has not discovered the again of the web for the reason that 4-0 win over Copenhagen firstly of November.

The Bayern Munich loanee’s normal struggles in possession could also be why he has discovered himself out of the aspect of late, as he ranks throughout the backside 23% of midfielders within the Premier League for progressive passes per 90 (3.24) and the underside 16% for progressive carries per 90 (0.53), per FBref.

Spurs eyeing transfer for Bundesliga star

Spurs are actually reportedly within the combine to signal one other central midfielder who may additional prohibit the sport time that Palhinha will get within the second half of the season.

In accordance with CaughtOffside, Bayern Munich midfield star Leon Goretzka’s representatives have reached out to make contact with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Arsenal.

The report claims that their sources have indicated that the German giants can be pressured to think about a sale within the January switch window if a convincing provide lands at their desk.

It provides that the Lilywhites are intently monitoring the Germany worldwide’s state of affairs on the Allianz Area, as they ponder a winter swoop for the skilled midfielder.

Nevertheless, CaughtOffside doesn’t reveal how a lot cash it could take for Bayern to think about a suggestion for the £218k-per-week star to be ‘convincing’ sufficient for them to half methods with him.

Why Tottenham’s Goretzka curiosity is dangerous information for Palhinha

It could possibly be Déjà vu for Palhinha if Spurs handle to agree a deal to deliver Goretzka to North London, as a result of he left Bayern on mortgage in the summertime after struggling for minutes behind the German large final time period.

The Portugal worldwide solely began six league matches for Bayern beneath Vincent Kompany within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, while Goretzka began 13 occasions and performed 9 extra video games total, per Sofascore.

As you may see within the desk above, the Germany worldwide justified his bigger position within the squad with superior performances in the midst of the park within the Bundesliga final time period.

Goretzka, who has been described as a midfield “machine” by Bayern teammate Aleksandar Pavlović, is a extra well-rounded midfielder who is healthier suited to taking part in in a dominant staff that desires to compete on the prime finish of the desk.

Palhinha offers nice defensive qualities along with his capacity to make tackles and interceptions, rating within the prime 1% of Premier League midfielders for tackles per 90 (5.27) this season, per FBref.

Midfielders in groups that need to compete on the very prime want to have the ability to provide high quality in possession to associate with their defensive qualities, although, which can be why Kompany was prepared to let him go, and why Thomas Frank has dropped him in current weeks.

The statistics within the chart above from Goretzka and Palhinha’s statistics this season present the numerous distinction in high quality in possession between the 2 gamers, because the German ranks extremely in a number of possession-based metrics.

This means that, as was the case at Bayern within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, Goretzka’s presence within the squad may spell dangerous information for the previous Fulham star within the second half of this season.

The 30-year-old star could possibly be a wonderful addition to Frank’s squad so as to add extra high quality on the ball to his choices in the midst of the park, probably leaving Palhinha’s future on the membership past his preliminary mortgage spell in severe doubt as a result of he may wrestle for recreation time behind the German expertise.