- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands there has been a major breakthrough over the deal that will see Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha move to Bayern Munich.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich have so far been frustrated in their attempts to sign Joao Palhinha but a breakthrough has now been made with Fulham.
Sources have confirmed to HITC that Bayern have reached an agreement with the Cottagers to sign Palhinha in a £42 million deal.
We had reported earlier this week that the midfielder had made it clear that he intended on moving to Bayern this summer and the two clubs have now struck an agreement.
Fulham allow Palhinha to go after gentleman’s agreement
Bayern have now struck an agreement with Fulham over a deal. Palhinha signed a new contract at Craven Cottage last summer but there was a gentleman’s agreement that if Bayern returned to the table, they would allow him to leave.
Fulham have stuck to that agreement and the former Sporting Lisbon midfielder is now heading to Bavaria.
Portuguese pundit Nuno Farinha was full of praise for the 28-year-old as a deal to take the midfielder to Bayern has now been agreed.
“This player deserves everything he’s achieving,” Farinha told Mais Futebol. “Nobody is doing Palhinha any favours. Palhinha deserves and justifies all the minutes he’s getting in the national team. He’s totally serious.”
Fulham have midfield target in mind as Palhinha replacement
Sources have told HITC that the reason Fulham came down on their fee, after originally wanting £50 million for the midfielder, is the gentleman’s agreement between the club and the player.
Marco Silva’s side will now turn their attention to potential replacements for the Portuguese midfielder who was a vital player under the former Hull City manager.
One name who the West London club are interested in is Brazilian midfielder Andre.
A move to Fulham was mooted last summer and sources have told HITC that the 22-year-old defensive midfielder is back on the club’s radar.
Andre plays for Brazilian side Fluminense and he can play at centre-back. He could prove to be an interesting replacement for the Cottagers.
We reported back in February that the midfielder was ready to snub interest from Turkey as he wanted a move to the Premier League.
HITC also understands that Fulham are keen on a new forward and a defensive addition this summer, whilst there is interest in Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer.
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