The winter transfer window is set to open on Monday. Bayern Munich are looking to bolster the squad after Kim Min-jae and Noussair Mazraoui were called up for South Korea and Morocco, respectively. Both players will be away with their national teams for four to five weeks.
Adding a versatile defender to the squad is the priority for Bayern in January. They want a defender who can play in central defense and right-back positions. Thomas Tuchel is hopeful about adding two players to the squad during the winter transfer window.
The ideal second signing in January for Tuchel will be a defensive midfielder. The German coach wants a robust defensive midfielder who can offer balance to the team on the pitch. He publicly pushed for a number six in the summer.
Bayern decided to move for a number six in the final week of the window when it was clear that Ryan Gravenberch was leaving Munich. The Dutch midfielder joined Liverpool on the deadline day, while Bayern pursued a deal for Fulham’s Joao Palhinha. Despite agreeing a fee for Palhinha, the move collapsed at the last moment due to Fulham’s failure to get a replacement for him.
Palhinha was gutted after the transfer fell through since he had completed all formalities at Sabner Strasse. Die Roten have been linked with the Portuguese midfielder in the past couple of months. However, Fulham head coach Marco Silva told media (via The Athletic) this week that there have been no approaches for Palhinha for a winter transfer.
""I've spoken with the board about it. I can say we have not received anything, no approaches. We have full focus on the games.""Fulham head coach Marco Silva
Bayern had agreed a fee close to €65 million for Palhinha in the summer. Bild has recently reported that Die Roten want to pay significantly less than what they had agreed in the summer. A winter move to Munich is looking unlikely for the Portuguese midfielder.
Bayern want to pay 'significantly less' than the €65m Fulham asked for João Palhinha in the summer. The English club, meanwhile, are unwilling to let Palhinha go for a 'bargain price'. At the moment, it's very questionable whether a move will go through in January. In addition,… pic.twitter.com/bUrEgE2CjM
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) December 27, 2023
Fulham will not budge over the transfer fee. The London-based club managed to extend Palhinha’s contract with a higher wage after the move to Munich collapsed in the summer. The Portuguese midfielder will have to push for a transfer if Bayern once again show interest in him.
After the summer transfer window, Bayern have been linked with other midfielders. Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is a target for the summer. Moreover, the emergence of Aleksandar Pavlovic during Hinrunde gives Tuchel more options in the holding midfield role. The Bavarian club may decide to postpone the move for a defensive midfielder until summer.