Wolverhampton Wanderers have entered talks over a deal that would see Sporting Lisbon midfielder Palhinha swap Portugal for the Black Country over the summer, according to O Jogo.
There is already an Iberian lilt in the Molineux dressing room and it seems that a Lisbon-born enforcer could be about to join compatriots Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and co in old gold sooner rather than later.
24-year-old Palhinha impressed as Braga took on Wolves twice in the Europa League group stage the other side of Christmas and it appears that a pair of all-action displays have paved the way for the on-loan battler to leave his homeland for a spell in the Premier League.
O Jogo reports that negotiations are underway, with Wolves closing in on their first signing of the summer.
It remains to be seen how much Palhinha would cost, but his aggressive ball-winning style should add further strength at the heart of an already iron-clad Wolves midfield.
The former Portugal U20 international has scored four times in 35 matches in all competitions this season.
And no one in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad can match him when it comes to tackles per game, with Palhinha’s tally of 3.5 comfortably exceeding that of Moutinho, Leander Dendoncker and even Romain Saiss.
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