Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly face competition from Everton for the signing of Sporting CP defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha.
According to Portuguese publication JN (via Jeunesfooteux), Tottenham Hotspur are targeting Sporting CP defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha as a summer signing. But they are not alone in his pursuit with fellow Premier League side Everton also monitoring the 26-year-old, along with Wolves and Leicester City
Tottenham Hotspur have undergone a resurgence under Antonio Conte and are in the race to finish in the top four of the Premier League this season. They recently registered a resounding 3-0 win over arch-rivals Arsenal, which left them just a point off the fourth-placed Gunners.
Tottenham are heading towards a crucial summer window as Conte tries to establish their position in the upper echelons of the Premier League. Adding midfield reinforcements is on top of Spurs’ priority list and Palhinha has emerged as a potential target.
The Portugal international has been a mainstay in the Sporting midfield since last season and has been quite impressive. The 26-year-old’s versatility stands out as he is capable to play in the centre of the defence as well. This seems to have caught Spurs’ attention, who may have to pay up to €35 million to secure his signing, the aforementioned report states.
But the north London club will have to face competition from quite a few clubs for the midfielder’s signing as Everton are also interested in signing the Portuguese international in the summer.
Everton seem to have navigated their way out of trouble and are now two points above the drop zone with a game in hand. Frank Lampard wants to strengthen his side ahead of the next season to avoid a repeat of the ongoing term. With Allan likely to be on his way out in the summer, a new defensive midfielder could be needed, explaining their interest in Palhinha.
Apart from Tottenham and Everton, Wolves and Leicester City are also interested with Sevilla keeping tabs as well. Wolves’ manager Bruno Lage believes Palhinha could be an able replacement for Ruben Neves, who seems to be on his way out of the club this summer. Lage’s squad also has quite a few Portugal internationals playing for them, which would help the 26-year-old settle down well in England.
With increasing competition for Palhinha, it remains to be seen if Tottenham can close the deal for his signing, with reports claiming that a bid was already in the works from the north London side.