Report: Leeds and Wolves target will only leave for offers impossible to reject, has £55m clause

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A reported Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers target is in line for an improved contract with his current employers, according to reports in Portugal.

It is claimed that Leeds ‘probed’ the Portuguese giants Sporting to ask about the situation of Joao Palhinha, and learn the conditions required for his transfer (O Jogo).

Palhinha, a central midfielder, was said to be close to joining Wolves before his compatriot Vitor ‘Vitinha’ Ferreira arrived at Molineux last week (Sunday Mirror).

But Sporting have experienced a ‘radical change’ in stance and informed the player they no longer want him to leave, according to A Bola.

The newspaper adds that, should Palhinha remain with the Lions beyond next month’s transfer deadline, he will be offered a pay increase to extend his deal by a likely amount of two years.

And only an approach that is considered ‘impossible’ to reject by both parties can now prise the 25-year-old from Sporting, according to Record.

It was suggested that Sporting had set Palhinha’s asking price at €15 million (around £13.7m) amid interest from Leeds and Wolves, although it is claimed that his contract contains a buyout clause of €60m (around £54.7m).

Unlike Wolves, Leeds have yet to strengthen their central midfield options in the summer transfer window.

The Whites have been strongly linked with a move for the more offensive-mined Udinese man, Rodrigo de Paul.