Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have identified Joao Palhinha as a target for the holding midfield position, according to Bild.
The Bavarians have submitted an offer to Fulham for the Portuguese midfielder.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has been insisting on a holding midfielder to partner Joshua Kimmich and allow the German the license to roam.
Palhinha fits this role perfectly. The 28-year-old is a ball-winning machine that breaks down opposition play excellently, disrupting their operations.
He made his name as an archetypal destroyer at Sporting CP but came to prominence when he made the surprising move to Fulham.
Palhinha was pivotal in Fulham’s tenth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
The Lisbon-born midfielder made a staggering 4.2 tackles per game, placing him in the 99th percentile for midfielders in the top five leagues.
Questions remain about Palhinha’s passing ability, but none about his penchant for shielding the defence.
He won 64% of all his aerial and 58% of his ground duels, displaying his prowess in the Premier League. He also scored three goals in his 35 appearances.
Palhinha is an aggressor, collecting 14 yellow cards last season, but Fulham will not tell him to tone it down as his swashbuckling style is vital to their play.
Bayern have tested their resolve with a bid for the midfielder. It remains to be seen if Fulham will allow him to move this late in the transfer window, but the allure of joining the Bundesliga champions may turn his head.
It is worth noting that Fulham rejected a £45 million bid from London rivals West Ham United, demanding £80m. Bayern will likely meet the same valuation.
