Tottenham allowed João Palhinha’s €30m (£25.8m) purchase option to expire this week. However, new reports from Portugal suggest Roberto De Zerbi is refusing to give up on the midfielder.
Recent coverage had increasingly pointed towards Tottenham stepping aside. Sporting had become the clear favourites to secure the player’s return to Lisbon.
Now according to A Bola, Spurs remain firmly interested in keeping the Portugal international… Despite allowing the option deadline to pass.
The report goes further and claims Tottenham only decided against activating the clause after being informed that Palhinha’s priority was to return to Sporting.
So it suggests the decision was not simply about the fee or Tottenham’s finances. The club already knew where the player stood.
De Zerbi still pushing hard
While Tottenham have stepped away from the clause, De Zerbi is apparently still trying to change the outcome.
O Jogo report the Spurs manager has spoken with Palhinha again in recent hours. He also reiterated his desire to keep him at the club.
That follows previous public comments from the Italian. He has repeatedly praised the midfielder’s influence both on and off the pitch.
After all, Palhinha was one of Tottenham’s most important players during the survival battle. He also scored the goal that ultimately secured Premier League safety.
Tottenham preparing next move
Maybe the most interesting detail from A Bola is that Tottenham’s involvement does not appear to have ended with the expiry of the clause.
The newspaper states Spurs are preparing a fresh approach to Bayern Munich.
Until now, many reports in Portugal had framed the story as a straightforward race between Sporting’s emotional appeal and Tottenham’s purchase option. Once the option expired, it looked as though Sporting had been handed a clear run.
Instead, Tottenham seem ready to continue fighting for the midfielder through a different route. So in reality, the expiry of the clause may not have changed as much as it first appeared.
Before, Tottenham could activate the €30m (£25.8m) option, but the deal still required Palhinha’s approval. Reports throughout this saga have repeatedly stressed that the player held a decisive voice in the process.
Now, rather than relying on the option, Spurs can simply negotiate directly with Bayern again.
Transfer battle entering new phase
Neither club currently controls Palhinha’s future.
Sporting continue to work on a return and remain in discussions with the player and his representatives. Sporting are also talking to Bayern Munich. Tottenham, meanwhile, are reportedly preparing another attempt to convince both Bayern and the midfielder.
The German side are still expected to seek the best possible financial outcome after spending around €51m (£43.4m) to sign Palhinha from Fulham in 2024.
Recent Portuguese reports have consistently stated that family reasons are pulling the midfielder back towards Lisbon. However, A Bola add an important note of caution.
The player may have influence, but “not everything is in his hands” – a slight contradiction to what have been reported in recent weeks.
Either way, the fight for Palhinha appears far from finished.
