Joao Palhinha has been linked with a summer move away from Fulham, with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United interested.
Joao Palhinha joined Fulham from Sporting CP last summer, and he has made quite an impression on his debut season. A report from Football Insider claims that Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are keen on signing the Portuguese midfielder. But they will have to pay in excess of £50 million for him.
The London club are demanding a premium for their prized asset, and it remains to be seen whether Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are ready to fork out a sizeable amount for him.
Liverpool are in desperate need of midfield reinforcements, and they have scouted Palhinha extensively. The Portuguese international could improve the Reds instantly, with players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita will leave the club as free agents.
Palhinha will thus add physicality and defensive cover to the Liverpool midfield. Meanwhile, Chelsea could lose N’Golo Kante at the end of the season. The Frenchman has not signed an extension with the Blues yet, and he could leave Stamford Bridge in the coming months.
While Palhinha might seem like a downgrade from Kante in terms of quality, the Fulham midfielder could prove to be a wise addition. He is at the peak of his power, whereas Kante is on the decline and has struggled with persistent injury problems this season.
Manchester United will have to bring in a reliable partner for Casemiro, and the Portuguese midfielder has emerged as a viable target. The midfielder has a long-term contract with Fulham, and it makes sense for the London club to demand big money like £50 million for his services.
Manchester United will be able to offer the midfielder Champions League football next season as opposed to Liverpool and Chelsea, who are highly unlikely to qualify for the European competition. Manchester United might feel that they have an edge in the transfer race.
Also Read: 2022/23 Premier League top-four race: Who will secure Champions League football?
The opportunity to play for clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United will be an attractive option for the player and it would be a major step up in his career. It will be interesting to see if the Portuguese international’s stint in the Premier League will continue by joining any of the three top clubs.
