Bayern Munich are confident that they will receive adequate offers for three senior players they are looking to part ways with this summer. The Bavarian club may end up getting a good fee for Joao Palhinha as Premier League clubs circle around him ahead of the start of the season in a fortnight.
Palhinha has been part of Bayern’s squad during the pre-season tour. However, the Portuguese midfielder will not get adequate game time next season. He has rejected a move to Saudi Arabia, while Benfica are yet to make a concrete offer for him despite being heavily linked with the 30-year-old midfielder.
Aston Villa are leading the race to sign Palhinha. The Premier League side confirmed talks with Bayern for the Portuguese midfielder. Villa want to strengthen the midfield after losing Amadou Onana to a long-term injury. The Midlands club is set to face competition from another Premier League side for the signature of Palhinha.
According to the Daily Mail in the UK, Newcastle United are also interested in Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese midfielder is not their prior target to replace Bruno Guimaraes, who joined Arsenal. The Tyneside club has identified Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojberg to strengthen their options in the centre of the park.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that Newcastle’s move for Hojberg has stalled as he has doubts about joining the Premier League side. As a consequence, Newcastle may aggressively pursue the signing of Joao Palhinha. Villa remain in talks with Bayern, but interest from a Premier League rival may allow the Bavarian club to get a good fee for the Portuguese midfielder.
Considering the fact that Aston Villa will be playing in the Champions League next season, a move to the Birmingham-based club is more appealing for Palhinha. Bayern will hope for a bidding war and get a fee closer to €30 million, which was the fee they had agreed with Tottenham Hotspur in the loan deal last summer.
Bayern complete deal for Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
The defending Bundesliga champions are not planning to sign a replacement for Palhinha. However, they have decided to make Bara Sapoko Ndiaye’s move permanent after he spent the second half of last season on loan in Munich.
Since it was a complex deal, it took some time for Bayern to announce his arrival. He was finally announced as the new signing on Monday. Ndiaye has already trained with the first team this summer. The teenager will be the fourth-choice midfield option in the senior squad.
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