Joao Palhinha wanted to play for Bruno Lage at Wolves but will now sign a £40,000-a-week contract at Premier League rivals Fulham instead, as reported by A Bola.
The finish line was in sight. After tracking Palhinha for the best part of two years, Wolverhampton Wanderers were a burst of acceleration away from finally getting their mitts on a long-term transfer target.
That is, however, until Fulham nipped in, overtaking the Black Country outfit at the final corner.
The Sun claimed earlier in June that Wolves had agreed personal terms with Palhinha and were expected to unveil the Sporting Lisbon midfielder sooner rather than later. According to Record, the former Braga loanee was keen on the idea of playing his football under former Benfica coach Lage at Molineux.
Fulham agree Joao Palhinha deal
Palhinha looks certain to work under another Primeira Liga winning coach in 2021/22, however. He has spoken to Fulham boss Marco Silva – who made his name at Sporting – with The Cottagers agreeing an initial £16 million fee with the 2021 Portuguese champions.
A Bola claim that Palhinha will earn £40,000-a-week at Craven Cottage; Double the wages he currently takes home at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
One of the most effective defensive midfielders in the whole of European football, putting pen to paper with Fulham certainly feels like something of a risk from Palhinha’s point of view. There is a World Cup on the horizon after all, and the 26-year-old’s international ambitions will take an almighty hit if he struggles to adapt to life at a club milling around the bottom of the Premier League.
Then again, after storming to the Championship title, Fulham’s transfer business paints the picture of a club hoping to thrive rather than just survive as they prepare for life back in the big time. Palhinha is a real coup of a signing, and so too is Manor Solomon.
Bernd Leno could also arrive from Arsenal.
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