​João Palhinha stands out as the odd man in Bayern Munich’s midfield, slipping down the depth chart after a season spent on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, where he helped the Lilywhites avoid relegation. The 31-year-old former Fulham midfielder has been informed that he is not part of Bayern’s current plans, and the club is actively seeking teams willing to sign him. Benfica’s interest in Palhinha is real, and a formal bid could be forthcoming to Bayern. The Portuguese club has already reached out to the midfielder’s representatives, with Palhinha himself expressing a desire to return to Portugal. Benfica is evaluating the financial structure of a potential deal and is preparing a proposal in the vicinity of €25 million. An alternative arrangement is also under consideration, potentially involving a loan with an obligation to buy: a €10 million loan fee accompanied by a future €15 million purchase obligation, depending on Bayern’s willingness to negotiate and the prevailing financial terms.
Interest from Milan, with new coach Rúben Amorim, has also been noted. Reports from Record Portugal, captured by the X account @iMiaSanMia, indicate that Sky Sports journalist Kerry Hau has reported that Benfica has conducted only exploratory talks about Palhinha. Despite the attention, Bayern remains intent on selling Palhinha, and another loan move appears unlikely. No deal has been reached with the player, and Bayern has not entered into formal negotiations with him. The club’s stance is clear: they want to sell Palhinha.
According to transfer expert Pedro Almeida, Palhinha could be nearing a deal with Benfica: “João Palhinha very close to join Benfica from Bayern.” It is suggested that Bayern may refrain from making new signings unless deadwood is offloaded first. If Bayern succeeds in moving the three remaining players on their sell list (excluding Kim Min-jae and Hiroki Ito, who do not wish to depart), then another signing could follow, potentially Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown.
The overarching picture paints a Bayern side looking to trim its squad and reshape its midfield, with Palhinha’s future leaning toward a return to Portugal. Benfica’s pursuit seems concrete, though negotiations have so far included exploratory conversations rather than formal agreements. As the situation unfolds, the possibility of a move to Benfica remains on the table, with detailed financial structures and contingent conditions under consideration by both clubs. Bayern, meanwhile, appear unsatisfied with the current state of the squad and will push to shift Palhinha out as part of a broader strategy to balance the payroll and make room for new acquisitions, provided the anticipated deadwood is cleared first.