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Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Sat 2 May 2026 10:06, UK

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Joao Palhinha has no future at Bayern Munich and so Tottenham could succeed in their plan to sign him for a lesser fee than his current option to buy clause.

Bayern sent Palhinha out on loan to Spurs last summer after he struggled to nail down a consistent starting place following a move from Fulham a year before.

The 30-year-old midfielder has had an impact in North London this season, but has again failed to start regularly as they battle against a shock relegation.

Tottenham want to renegotiate the fee to sign him permanently if they stay up, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, with Bayern keen to sell Palhinha as he is not in Kompany’s plans for next term.

Tottenham’s transfer plans will be dictated by their future in the Premier League, with the Portugal midfielder only likely to stay if they avoid relegation.

Joao Palhinha has no future at Bayern as Tottenham aim to renegotiate his permanent fee

Palhinha was regarded as one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League during his time at Fulham, but his stocks have fallen in the last two seasons.

Spurs’ fanbase remains divided over signing him this summer, with the club encouraged to try and lower his transfer fee to secure his services permanently as Bayern seek a sale.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “I think it’s pretty certain that he doesn’t have a long term future at Bayern Munich.

“He’s under contract until 2028, but he’s well down the pecking order at the Allianz Arena. I don’t see any way back for him to break into Vincent Kompany’s plans.

“He started the season off pretty well for Tottenham and was a regular starter, but then has probably found himself out of favour since the turn of the year.

“Everything’s open right now. Spurs don’t know what they can and can’t do in the transfer market due to they don’t know what league they’re going to be in.

“If Spurs stay up and they can renegotiate that buy option, then there’s a real opportunity that Palhinha could extend to stay.”

Tottenham have no plans to let Lucas Bergvall leave amid Premier League interest

Bergvall has started alongside Palhinha in several games for Spurs this season as he continues to impress despite their poor showings as a team.

The Swedish midfielder is reportedly attracting the attention of Aston Villa and Chelsea ahead of the summer window as Spurs battle relegation.

Sources have, however, revealed to Football Insider that Tottenham do not want to sell Bergvall this summer regardless of whether they stay up or not.

It will be on him and his representatives to force a move away if he wishes to continue his career elsewhere next season.