£14m Leeds and Wolves target glad he didn’t leave; could now cost £54m

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An alleged summer target for Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers has claimed he was glad to commit his future to his current employers.

Leeds are said to have ‘probed’ the Portuguese giants Sporting to ask about Joao Palhinha, and learn the conditions required for his transfer (O Jogo).

It had been reported that Palhinha, a central midfielder, was close to joining Wolves before his compatriot Vitor ‘Vitinha’ Ferreira arrived at Molineux (Sunday Mirror).

But the 25-year-old remained a Sporting player following last week’s deadline for overseas moves and has subsequently signed a new deal.

“I am very happy to sign another renewal with one of the clubs that formed me and played a very important role in my growth,” Palhinha told the official Sporting website.

“I want to leave a different image from the one I left in the past. This is what I want to show Sporting fans and everyone: what I am really worth. I know that the people in this club believe in me”

“If I had already left Sporting, as is so much speculated at this moment, I would perhaps leave in a way that was not consistent with the entire journey I made in this club, especially in the formation and in team B.

“Leaving team A with that feeling of not having demonstrated my value and my potential would always leave a bitter taste. I face this new opportunity with maximum motivation and I want to help the club to achieve its goals.”

It was rumoured at the time that a deal for Palhinha would have cost Leeds or Wolves €15 million (around £13.7m) .

But Sporting, who have extended the former Braga loanee’s contract by a further two years to 2025, have announced his buyout clause now stands at €60m (around £54.4m).

Unlike Wolves, Leeds have failed to add to their options in Palhinha’s position this summer and have until 5pm on Friday to rectify that – although they can only recruit players from EFL clubs unless they were already a free agent when the previous deadline passed.