Bayern Munich appear to be walking away from returning for Fulham’s João Palhinha, who would have actually cost them €75m in the summer.
That’s according to BILD’s Die Englische Woche, relayed by Fussball Transfers, who cover the player today and how he might not end up in Bavaria after all.
As you’ll be aware by this point, Palhinha was on the verge of joining Bayern Munich in the summer, with the German side agreeing a deal with Fulham and the player even undergoing a medical and doing media duties for his new club.
The deal collapse at the last minute, though, as Fulham failed to source a replacement on the deadline day and refused to sanction the exit.
The belief had been that Bayern would return for him in the January transfer window as they need to sign a number six, with their squad lacking in that position.
That’s been made more difficult as Palhinha has since signed a new deal at Fulham and various reports have had Bayern taking a step back, with it even claimed they’re concerned about a knee issue.
BILD continue the stepping away today, saying it is ‘doubtful’ whether Bayern will return for Palhinha as he’s become ‘more expensive’ than previously expected.
They explain that while the deal in the summer was reported at €65m would have actually cost €74m if bonuses had been activated but with his new contract now in place, those figures would have increased.
Whatever the figure now is it’s ‘possibly too much’ for those in charge at Bayern and they’re now ‘refraining’ from making another offer for the time being. Indeed, it’s quite possible they’ll look elsewhere and leave him at Craven Cottage.
