Joao Palhinha emerged as one of the heroes of the relegation battle for Tottenham Hotspur, getting himself back into the starting lineup and playing lights out for Roberto De Zerbi. And it was Palhinha's goal that will forever be a trivia question, as he headed home from a corner to ensure Spurs would defeat Everton 1-0 on Matchday 38 and stay up in the Premier League.
The Portuguese international's defensive impact far outweighed the goal, though, and he was a warrior both in that game against Everton and even before that, too. De Zerbi told reporters that Palhinha would 100 percent be a part of the future, but, as it turns out, Spurs had no intention of keeping the veteran midfielder around.
Tottenham did not pick up his 25-30 million euro option to buy from Bayern Munich and have instead spent 185 million pounds on a younger and, yes, better duo in Sandro Tonali and compatriot Mateus Fernandes. Although Sporting CP in Palhinha's home country of Portugal were interested in him even when it seemed like Spurs might keep him, talks between Bayern Munich and the Liga Nos side have been slow to develop.
Joao Palhinha could betray Tottenham
Now, Fabrizio Romano is reporting the bomba that Joao Palhinha is on the short list of a Premier League rival, as after losing star man Youri Tielemans to Manchester United - their choice after missing out on Fernandes to Spurs - Aston Villa are after the 31 year old former Fulham man. Romano says that talks between Villa and Bayern have yet to open, but he affirms that Palhinha is 100 percent leaving the Bundesliga giants.
Palhinha never really made much sense for Bayern in the first place, neither in profile nor in the standard of a Champions League contender. He always fit a slightly lower level Premier League club more, but because Tottenham Hotspur are after title contention themselves in, hopefully, a few years, Roberto De Zerbi and Johan Lange likely made the call to pivot to other players in midfield instead.
Aston Villa signing Palhinha would still be a tough blow to Spurs. Though Villa and Spurs are not rivals, Villa fans have been wanting to act as if they are the new Big Six after beating out Tottenham in the table a few years running, and that has led to some bad blood. Palhinha was a hero for Spurs, so seeing him as an opponent twice this season with Aston Villa would be a sour taste.
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