Tottenham are said to be pushing to land Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali this summer, and that could be bad news for another player.
Roberto De Zerbi is going all out to improve his squad amid firm backing from the board, who are willing to spend big this summer. Spurs have already snapped up Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free deals, while Jan Paul van Hecke is a statement signing at the back.
The recruitment will not end there, though, and it appears as though the midfield role will be next to be addressed.
Palhinha may now miss out on move
Spurs are said to be pursuing a couple of midfield targets, with a £75million bid for Tonali being rejected, while West Ham's Mateus Fernandes is said to be an alternative if they can't push through a deal for the former.
But all that is bad news for Joao Palhinha, who is said to have been hoping for a permanent move to Spurs this summer. Palhinha was one of the few positives from the season just gone, but Tottenham decided not to make the loan move permanent with their option to buy.
Instead, they are said to have spoken to Bayern about the possibility of reducing the fee further, but the German giants paid big money for the Portugal international, so there is no guarantee of a further discount.
The big-money midfielder pursuit is not going to help Spurs go and spend another big chunk, likely well over £25million, on Palhinha, especially not with Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher also being options in the middle.
To Palhinha's credit, he has done his bit. He performed well last season and showed De Zerbi what he can offer this team. But signing the former Fulham star will likely come down to a business decision, and that leaves the player in a tricky scenario.
Not only is not getting a Spurs deal not ideal, but Palhinha would also have to return to Bayern Munich, where he is unlikely to be anywhere near Vincent Kompany's plans for next season, leaving him searching for another new club.
It is certainly not impossible that Spurs sign Tonali or Fernandes and Palhinha this summer, and it would be wise if they did, but the Portuguese star's camp has to be looking at Tottenham's transfer business, the complete silence when it comes to talks with Bayern and wondering where it leaves Palhinha.
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