Tottenham Hotspur are planning to make their opening bid to sign Sporting midfielder Joao Palhinha before the end of this month.
That’s according to Portuguese newspaper Journal de Noticias, who claim that Tottenham ‘want to get ahead of the competition’ for Palhinha.
Tottenham know there is rival interest in signing Palhinha this summer and their first bid is now expected to go in before the end of May.
O Jogo reported just last week that Paris Saint-Germain and Mauricio POchettino are looking to sign Palhinha this summer.
Sporting are allegedly willing to sell for £25million.
Add in rumoured interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers and it’s clear that Palhinha is a wanted man.
Tottenham seemingly don’t want to miss out though and are now ready to formalise their interest in the coming weeks.
This comes after The Telegraph reported that Antonio Conte wants to bring two new midfielders to Tottenham this summer.
That’s an interesting idea from Conte given Tottenham’s numbers in the middle of the park.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur have struck up a strong partnership in midfield.
Oliver Skipp figures to be an important part, Harry Winks is still at the club and Pape Matar Sarr will be returning to Tottenham this summer.
Adding two more into that mix would give Tottenham a logjam in midfield, so you can only assume that Sarr will head out on loan again and Winks will be sold.
Palhinha would then be able to come in, providing something completely different to the Tottenham midfield.
A huge figure at 6ft 3in tall, Palhinha is a strong and imposing holding midfielder who can protect his back line admirably.
Turning 27 this summer, Palhinha has only played in 69 league games for Sporting but that is due to him spending four years out on loan at Moreirense, Belenenses and Braga.
Now a regular on the international stage with Portugal, Palhinha has two goals in 12 caps for his country.
Tottenham seemingly love Palhinha’s physicality and defensive awareness, with a bid seemingly imminent.
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