Ex-Manchester United 'target' set for £47.4m Bayern move

Former Manchester United transfer target Joao Palhinha is reportedly closing in on a belated move to Bayern Munich - almost 12 months after a deal to take the Fulham midfielder to the Bundesliga giants fell through.

United were believed to be in a substantial list of several big name clubs to be linked with Palhinha after he impressed in the Premier League since joining the Cottagers in a £20m deal from Sporting Lisbon in 2022. His form at Craven Cottage led to reported interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham United, with the latter said to have been unsuccessful with a £45m offer last summer.

However, it was Bayern that looked set to conclude a move for the midfielder, only to see the deal called off on deadline day last summer as Fulham were unable to find a replacement.

Speaking in November after a move fell through, Palhinha told Portuguese outlet O Jogo: “I don’t know what will happen in the future. Obviously, it’s really affected me and my family, but that’s all in the past, I don’t want to think about it too much.

“It’s a great source of pride, you know what happened. In my life everything that has happened has been for a reason, I like to think of it like that. The future will tell me whether what happened was really what had to happen or not, but only the future will show me that.

“I want to keep going the way I’ve been going, nobody has given me anything throughout my career, and everything I’ve achieved is down to my worth, my work. I hope it stays that way. I’m 28, but I know I can go higher and I’m looking to the future with that ambition.”

Despite penning a new deal at Fulham just weeks later, speculation linking Palhinha will a move to Bayern has dominated the headlines over the last few months and their interest has now led to a reported bid of around £47.4m. That will represent a club-record sale for the Cottagers and Sky Germany are now reporting the midfielder will pen a four-year deal with the Bundesliga giants and will formally complete his move to the Allianz Arena once Portugal’s participation at Euro 2024 comes to a close.