Joao Palhinha, valued at around €60 million by Premier League club Fulham, reportedly dreams about joining Barcelona.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Joao Palhinha is the subject of interest from Barcelona. And the Portuguese international dreams about joining the reigning La Liga champions. But the Fulham midfielder’s price tag is an issue for the Blaugrana, who cannot afford to meet the valuation.
The Rise and Rise of Joao Palhinha
Joao Palhinha has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since joining Fulham from Sporting CP in July 2022. The 28-year-old took little time to make his mark at Craven Cottage. And his exploits have also earned him a more prominent role for Portugal on the international stage.
The Portuguese international has turned out 61 times thus far for Fulham, chipping in with six goals and one assist. Meanwhile, he has made 24 appearances for Portugal. Palhinha’s progress at the Premier League club has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs.
A Player in Demand
Bayern Munich wanted to sign Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window before a deadline-day move collapsed. The Bundesliga champions are still interested, although a winter swoop is unlikely. In addition, many Premier League bigwigs are keen on securing his services. But he is also a target for Barcelona.
Barcelona’s interest in Palhinha is understandable. The Blaugrana replaced Sergio Busquets with Oriol Romeu in the summer transfer window. But the veteran Spanish midfielder is on the wrong side of 30 and has struggled to impose himself at the Catalan club. So, it behoves Barcelona to invest in a holding midfielder this year.
Joao Palhinha has thus emerged as a viable target for the reigning La Liga champions. And the Portuguese international dreams of joining Barcelona. But his price tag, worth €60 million, is a problem for the Catalan outfit, who cannot afford to pay the sum that Fulham will demand to part ways with him.
With Barcelona showing interest in Erling Haaland, a move for Palhinha might be out of question unless the Cottagers lower their €60 million demands. It will be interesting to see if the 28-year-old can secure his dream move anytime soon.
