Bayern Munich have seemingly abandoned their plans to sign Joao Palhinha from Fulham, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi now their main focus.
That’s according to journalist Christian Falk, who reports that the days of the German champions focusing on the Portuguese midfielder are now over.
Palhinha was the main target for Bayern in the summer as they looked for a new number six for Thomas Tuchel and a deal was close to being done on deadline day of the window.
Palhinha had even travelled to Munich for a medical and posed for photos with the club photographer before the deal was cancelled at the last minute as Fulham had failed to find a replacement.
That left the midfielder devastated and hoping for a deal to be done in January but that never happened, with Bayern instead turning their attentions elsewhere and Palhinha signing a new deal at Craven Cottage in the interim.
It remained to be seen whether Bayern’s interest would be revived this summer as the number six position still needs strengthening, even if Tuchel will be departing.
However, a report yesterday stated that they’d now abandoned their plans and Palhinha was no longer on the list of players being looked at.
Falk now backs that up, insisting that times have changed at the Allianz Arena and the Fulham man is no longer being considered.
“This is true. Joao Palhinha, who kept us busy in the summer, was already in Munich and would have signed a contact but then Fulham didn’t release him,” he said.
“Bayern would have accepted him with a kiss on the hand, but those days are over. I heard that Martin Zubimendi is much higher on the list and should be the new number six for the new season.
“The Spaniard from Real Sociedad would be available with an exit clause, similar to Palhinha, but he’s become more expensive with the contract extension and is not quite the same anymore.
“They were convinced that he (Palhinha) would simply have been the best solution at the time but now Zubimendi would fit the profile of Bayern much better.”
