Sources: Tottenham make move to sign Palhinha after Nuno green light

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Published on:

10 Aug 2021, 2:00 am

Tottenham have registered their interest in signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha, Football Insider can reveal.

The central midfielder has been targeted by Spurs as they look to strengthen in the final weeks of the summer window.

A Tottenham source has told Football Insider that the club have been in contact over a potential deal for Palhinha, who is hugely admired by Nuno Espirito Santo.

Palhinha has a huge million release clause in his contract but could be prised from Sporting for as little as £14m.

This site revealed on 18th June that Palhinha is the number one midfield target for Wolves this summer as they look to rebuild under new manager Bruno Lage.

But the Midlands outfit need to sell before they can buy and that has opened the door for Spurs to swoop.

Palhinha is a 6ft 3in defensive midfielder who can win the ball, hold the midfield, is dominant aerially and can also fill in at centre-back.

He was a dominant figure in the Sporting midfield last term as they beat big guns Porto and Benfica to the title.

The Portugal international returned from a two-year loan spell at Braga to make 28 league starts among 38 appearances in midfield.

The Londoners are working on multiple transfer targets as they continue the overhaul that has already brought three new senior signings this summer - goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, winger Bryan Gil and centre-back Cristian Romero.

Joe Hart, Erik Lamela and Toby Alderweireld have left Spurs to make way for the new arrivals.

At least one senior central midfielder is set to leave, which would create space for a new arrival.

Football Insider revealed last Saturday that Moussa Sissoko has opened talks with an overseas club after being told he is free to find a new team.

In other news, Aston Villa have hijacked Tottenham deal after bid submitted.

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