‘Fulham hold talks about sensational Joao Palhinha return’
Fulham have held internal talks about the possibility of bringing Joao Palhinha back to the club just one year after he left to join Bayern Munich.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 29-year-old is still very highly thought-of at Craven Cottage.
Palhinha is believed to be open to a return to the Premier League after struggling for game time since his move to the Bundesliga giants.
Before his move to Bayern, Football Insider revealed Liverpool and Arsenal wanted to sign Palhinha in the wake of his impressive Fulham performances.
However, has made just nine starts in 22 appearances across all competitions this season, and has played the second-least minutes of any player with more than 15 appearances.
Marco Silva‘s side, meanwhile, are hoping to qualify for Europa Conference League football this season and currently occupy the final qualification place in the league.
Joao Palhinha backed to make Fulham return
Silva has identified his midfield as an area for improvement this summer after Football Insider revealed Fulham wanted to sign Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has now insisted Palhinha is the ideal addition to help take the squad up a level.
“This would be a really good move for Fulham,” he told Football Insider.
“It’s something they’ve spoken about internally, about whether it would be possible and what it would take to bring him back.
“He was terrific for them before his move to Bayern Munich, and there were a number of clubs here who wanted to sign him, so I was surprised he went to Germany.
“That move hasn’t worked out for him, but that can happen.
“He was a really, really good player for Fulham so it doesn’t surprise me that he still has admirers there.
“Fulham need players like him if they want to compete in Europe next season.
“It’s been a cracking season, and Palhinha is the type of player who could take them up a level.
“If the opportunity is there for him to return, it’s something I’m sure they’ll be prepared to work on.”
Sporting CP beat Marco Silva to sign Greek duo
Despite their ambitions of bringing in Palhinha to strengthen their squad, Fulham are also set to miss out on two of their top targets this summer.
Football Insider revealed on 11 April that Panathinaikos duo Fotis Ioannidis and Georgios Vagiannidis are both edging closer to a move to Sporting CP.
Silva’s recruitment team had targeted striker Ioannidis, 25, and right-back Vagiannidis, 23, as they aim to bolster their squad for next season.
This comes as Football Insider exclusively revealed in March that Fulham are chasing Vaginnidis as they want to strengthen at right-back in the summer.
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