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2013 link means Bayern chase for high profile Tottenham flop Paulinho shouldn’t surprise

Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti (REUTERS)
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Former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho is a target for Bayern Munich.

PaulinhoPaulinho

There were a few people scratching their heads earlier this week when it emerged Paulinho is a transfer target for German giants Bayern Munich.

French radio station RMC claim talks have already been held with the midfielder’s agent ahead of a summer move.

This is of course the same Paulinho who flopped at Tottenham Hotspur after a £17 million move from Corinthians, his second failed spell in European football.

Paulinho disappointed under the tutelage of three separate managers and was sold in 2015 to Guangzhao Evergrande in China.

He scored on his debut in China in a pre-season game against Bayern Munich, but the reason the Bundesliga champions are interested is partly down to manager Carlo Ancelotti, and partly due to his international form for Brazil, where he is still a regular.

Bayern Munich coach Carlo AncelottiBayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti

Ancelotti considered raiding Tottenham for Paulinho in 2013, just months into his spell in North London, when the Italian was in charge at Real Madrid.

The Telegraph reported that Ancelotti was keen on the midfielder, but a deal was always difficult with the Brazilian just six months into his spell at the club, and relations soured between Real and Spurs months after a protracted transfer battle over Gareth Bale.