A good transfer window ended on a sour note for Bayern Munich. Despite doing everything possible to complete the signing of Joao Palhinha from Fulham, the transfer didn’t go through since there was no final green light from the English club.
Palhinha underwent medical in Munich and completed the rest of the formalities on Friday, only to go back to London after the transfer collapsed at the last minute. The Portuguese midfielder was devastated, while Die Roten’s planning to address the midfield looked chaotic.
Thomas Tuchel expressed disappointment over the transfer chaos on the final day while talking to media on Saturday. The German coach has been looking to add a defensive midfielder to the squad throughout the summer. However, the Bavarian club only made a move for Palhinha on the penultimate day of the transfer window. Fulham couldn’t sort out a replacement, so they had to keep Palhinha for the first half of the season.
Palhinha didn’t play for Fulham last weekend after his move to Bayern collapsed at the last minute. The Portuguese midfielder will need some time to recover from this setback, but he may eventually get a move to Bavaria in the future. While talking to media before the game against Borussia Monchengladbach (via iMiaSanMia), Bayern CEO Jan Christian-Dressen hinted towards a winter transfer for Palhinha.
"“He was extremely sad yesterday. He would’ve liked to stay (in Munich). But as we say: most of the time, you see each other twice in life.”"
Sport1 has also reported that a transfer to Bayern is possible for Palhinha in January. The Bavarian club had agreed a fee close to €65 million for the Portuguese midfielder. It remains to be seen if Fulham will accept a similar fee for the midfielder midway through the season. The Portuguese international will definitely push for a move if Die Roten remains interested.
Tuchel currently has only three options in the center of the park, so Die Roten will have to add a midfielder to the squad in January. Despite failing to complete a deal for Palhinha, Bayern went ahead with the sale of Ryan Gravenberch. The Dutch midfielder sealed a deadline-day move to Liverpool.
Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka form the preferred midfield pairing for Tuchel in Hinrunde, while Konrad Laimer will provide depth in this position. The Austrian midfielder will also provide cover in the right-back position.
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Along with failing to sign Palhinha, Bayern also struggled to find a replacement for Benjamin Pavard. They pursued deals for Trevoh Chalobah and Armel Bella-Kotchap, but both transfers never materialised on the deadline day. When the transfer window reopens in January, Tuchel will hope to see a new defender and midfielder arrive in Munich.