Tottenham already know Sporting are watching closely for any sign of weakness in the João Palhinha situation.
Reports from Portugal last week explained Sporting are monitoring the midfielder’s future while preparing for major midfield changes ahead of next season. The Lisbon side believe there could still be an opening if Tottenham fail to complete a permanent deal with Bayern Munich.
Now, before negotiations have even properly started, Spurs are already looking at ways to lower the price.
That is according to O Jogo, who report Tottenham intend to negotiate with Bayern over the €30m (£25.8m) purchase option included in Palhinha’s loan agreement.
Palhinha has become one of Tottenham’s most important players under Roberto De Zerbi.
The Italian coach has already publicly praised the midfielder this season. O Jogo now add De Zerbi wants to build Spurs’ 2026/27 squad around Palhinha and will push the club to complete the transfer.
Even so, Tottenham still want Bayern to lower their demands.
Tottenham want discount from Bayern
According to the newspaper, Spurs will only open formal talks with Bayern if they secure Premier League survival.
That remains an important detail because Tottenham are still not mathematically safe from relegation. If the club fall into the Championship, the entire picture changes.
O Jogo explain Palhinha would no longer fit the sporting or financial reality of a second-tier side. In that scenario, Sporting’s hopes of bringing him back to Portugal would increase significantly.
The Lisbon club are already planning for the exits of Morten Hjulmand and Hidemasa Morita, which explains why Palhinha’s situation is receiving so much attention internally.
Sporting still waiting for opportunity
Sporting believe several factors could eventually work in their favour.
Bayern are keen to sell permanently, while Palhinha himself remains strongly attached to his former club. As we recently covered, the midfielder would welcome a return for family reasons and could even lower his salary demands to help make it happen.
Palhinha came through Sporting’s academy before joining Fulham in 2022 for €21m (£18m). Bayern then signed him in 2024 before loaning him to Tottenham.
For now, Spurs remain favourites to keep him permanently. However, the fact they are already trying to negotiate a lower fee – while their Premier League status remains uncertain – is giving Sporting reasons to stay alert.
