Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha will sign a four-year deal with Premier League newcomers Fulham and is due to head to England after his holiday, as reported by A Bola.
The unveiling of a 6ft 4ins Portuguese powerhouse, the report says, is only ‘a matter of time’. Is that white smoke we can see, billowing out of Craven Cottage?
In perhaps their most ambitions and impressive transfer coup since the turn of the Century, Fulham are on the verge of signing a player who, during the last two seasons at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, has established himself as one of Europe’s most reliable ‘number sixes’.
Palhinha is not only an outstanding ball-winner, he is just as impressive in possession too. There’s a reason why some at Wolves felt the former Braga loanee could help replace the masterful Ruben Neves at Molineux (The Sun).
Wolverhampton Wanderers were the clear frontrunners to secure Palhinha’s signature until Fulham nipped in, sneaking past their top-flight rivals at the final corner. An £18 million transfer fee has been agreed, with the one-time Tottenham Hotspur target set to earn £40,000-a-week at Craven Cottage over the next four years.
That works out as an overall cost of around £8.3 million in wages.
Fulham on verge of sealing Joao Palhinha deal
According to A Bola, Palhinha is currently on holiday in the Maldives. Once he’s finished sunning himself on the sands of the Indian Ocean, he will board a flight to England and put pen to paper with a club who cruised to the Championship title last season.
Palhinha could officially become a Fulham player as early as next week.
“Palhinha? The deal with Fulham is practically closed,” Portuguese reporter and Sporting expert Nuno Dias tells CM Jornal.
Of course, Palhinha would not be the first marquee signing Fulham have made following promotion. Things didn’t work out all that well for Jean-Michel Seri, Andre Franck Zambo Anguissa and co in the Premier League.
But, if he can adapt to a quicker, more physical game, Palhinha could be the difference between a relegation battle and an altogether more comfortable season at Craven Cottage.
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