Joao Palhinha has reportedly emerged as a target for Barcelona, with Liverpool and Manchester United also interested in him.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Joao Palhinha is the subject of interest from Barcelona. Liverpool and Manchester United are also interested in signing the Fulham midfielder in the summer transfer window. And the Cottagers want around €50 million to part ways with the Portuguese international.
Joao Palhinha spent his formative years with three Portuguese clubs before graduating from the Sporting CP Academy. The 27-year-old has been a professional footballer for nearly a decade. But he only found a stable footing in his career after returning to Sporting CP from a loan stint with SC Braga.
Fulham signed the Portuguese international in a deal worth €20 million last summer, and he took no time to become a pivotal figure for the London club. The player turned out 40 times across all competitions, chipping in with four goals. And Palhinha’s progress has captured the attention of Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
The newly-crowned La Liga champions are the latest club to show interest in the Fulham midfielder. Barcelona will prioritise signing a midfielder this summer following Sergio Busquets’s departure. And while the long-serving midfielder has blown hot and cold in the last few years, his exit will leave a huge void in the Barcelona midfield.
Several midfielders, including Florentino Luis, have thus popped up on Barcelona’s radar. And Joao Palhinha’s name has also emerged on Barcelona’s wishlist. But the Catalan giants face stiff competition from Liverpool and Manchester United for the Portuguese international. Meanwhile, Fulham’s price tag of €50 million might also bother the Blaugrana.
Liverpool will sign multiple midfielders this summer after losing James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as free agents. In addition, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho struggled to perform consistently this past season. So the Fulham midfielder is an option worth considering. As for Manchester United, the Red Devils need an able partner for Casemiro.
Christian Eriksen is on the wrong side of 30 and has not shown the endurance to last an entire season. So Palhinha’s name has popped up on Manchester United’s radar. And Liverpool and Manchester United are in a healthy-enough position to pay €50 million to sign him.
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Barcelona’s financial issues might leave them lagging in the race to sign Joao Palhinha from Fulham. But it will be interesting to see if they can turn the player’s head by approaching him in the coming weeks. For now, Liverpool and Manchester United seem to have the upper hand.
