Tottenham are still unsure about signing Joao Palhinha on a permanent deal.
Joao Palhinha’s future at Tottenham Hotspur has been among the talking points in the last couple of weeks.
The Portugal international signed for Spurs on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich last summer, and has made 41 appearances so far this season, with six goals and three assists. He delivered the winner in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux last weekend, helping his team get the first league win of 2026.
After a strong first half of the season, the defensive midfielder’s form has dipped since the turn of the year. However, Joao Palhinha is hitting top form at the most crucial juncture of the campaign, as the Lilywhites aim to maintain their top-flight status. With several key members of the squad ruled out for the rest of the season, the 30-year-old’s form, fitness and experience will be key for Roberto De Zerbi’s side in their bid for survival.
Mick Brown says Tottenham are negotiating with Bayern Munich for the permanent transfer of Joao Palhinha
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund recently addressed the situation of Palhinha for the first time, recognising the difficulty of the player’s current position. He remained coy over the long-term future of the 30-year-old.
Spurs do hold an option to sign the Portuguese enforcer for €25-€30m fee. Now, former scout Mick Brown has claimed that Palhinha’s permanent move could depend on the fee involved, but negotiations with Bayern are taking place behind the scenes.
“I thought Palhinha would be an excellent signing for Tottenham,” Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider.
“After what he showed at Fulham, earning that move to Bayern Munich, I expected him to come back in and show that again at Tottenham. I must admit, that has not gone to plan for him or for Tottenham. Every time I listen to pundits speaking about him, they tear him apart.
“Jamie Carragher, for example, said he hasn’t got the quality to play in the Premier League, and I thought that was harsh based on the things I’ve seen. But from Tottenham’s point of view, they can’t listen to what pundits are saying, they’re going to make a decision about him at the end of the season.
“If they stay in the Premier League, I’m sure he will want to make the move, and the manager will assess his squad to see what they can do. From what I’ve heard, they’ve already been in negotiations behind the scenes, maybe to bring the price down or find a deal that suits them a bit better.
“So, with Tottenham at the moment, you just have to wait and see, but they have to make decisions based on their own views, not those of people outside the club.”
Tottenham must stay in the Premier League to keep Palhinha
Going by Brown’s words, it seems Tottenham are keen to keep Palhinha, but are not willing to pay the original terms. The defensive midfielder is yet to start a game under De Zerbi, though; his impact off the bench has been telling.
Given he is set to turn 31 in July, there is a reluctance from the North Londoners to spend a decent chunk of their transfer budget on the Bayern loanee. Also, keeping Palhinha beyond the season depends on where Tottenham end up in the league. If they suffer relegation, that would extinguish their chances of signing the Portuguese star permanently.
For now, Spurs’ entire focus is on clinching top-flight safety. Post that, Palhinha’s future will be resolved.
