Good news, if he continues to show the skill and attitude of last season. I do have concerns about him though. He has looked well off that level in the couple of games so far, and he does have an arrogance about him that verges on 'I'm Billy Big Bollox'
Good news: Angelo Stiller's proposed move to Los Ladrones is off, meaning he's still on the market Bad news: Angelo Stiller's knee ligaments attempted to make the move to Madrid while the rest of Stiller was on Stuttgart's training ground
Given he's on a reported £166k a week, which is literally double what Fulham were paying him, that's the likely reason why it's going to be a loan Also explains why Bayern are so keen to get him off their books a year after signing him
A loan makes sense to me, fills a hole that we hope Archie Gray will grow in to, and seeing and training with Palinha playing the role can only help.
£166k a week for Bayern is probably peanuts to be honest, I just don’t think they really need him - which hopefully works for us! I’m happy for the club to be covering his wages if need be, I think he’s a very good DM, somewhat in the Wanyama mould and it’s something we’ve lacked since Wanyama too. I think a midfield trio of Palhinha, Bentancur and Maddison has the right blend of grit, stamina and creativity to be an effective unit.
I really wanted us to sign him when he left Fulham. Adds some much needed grit, experience and dare I say it bullying to the midfield. I hope we get this over the line.
It does have to be said that the €200k that Palhinha is paid each week is on the lower end of the scale for what their midfielders earn, as in comparison Michael Olise makes €250k, Leon Goretzka €275k, and Joshua Kimmich something like €375k - though he's also paid more than the €175k Konrad Laimer is on, and that last part is likely what makes Palhinha the more logical one to move on
Iirc correctly the only reason they signed him was that it looked like Kimmich would leave the club when his contract expired, only to perform a complete U-turn at the end of last season and sign a new four year deal, so Palhinha is now surplus to requirements.
We're being linked with Kolo Muani. The player wants to make his move to Juve permanent, but they're reluctant to match PSG asking price. Can't say I'm overly enamoured by this one tbh. Useful squad player but doesn't improve the first team at all.
Hard not to think we're being used to kick Juve up the backside, as they're dithering on their offer Especially as last week we were being used to kick PSG up the backside as they didn't want to meet Bournemouth's valuation of Ilya Zabarnyi
Sounds like personal terms have been agreed with Palhinha, we’ll cover his wages and have a buy option in the deal. Solid deal in my eyes, hopefully this one gets done this time and we don’t find out he’s signed a new deal!
Would be delighted if we get this over the line. We all wanted a couple of experienced players this summer to go with our youthful squad. Specialist DM who is actually a better passer than some give him credit for. Will be a great option for Frank and Archie Gray can learn from Palinha. Loan with an option is a brilliant deal. We still need a creative 8/10 a MGW style of player to compliment our midfield especially as we can’t rely heavily on Maddison and Kulusevski with their injury problems and we obviously also need another LB.
Palhinha Watch Romano says we have agreed personal terms and are in advanced talks, with us covering his salary - though the loan comes with a buy option, not a mandatory purchase Plettenberk says he "is on the verge of joining" and an agreement between clubs is "almost complete" How strange, we agree terms with a player and their club don't start screeching publicly as they try to avoid honouring a release clause...
Highest number of successful tackles in the PL two seasons running when he was with Fulham. Hopefully that will stop the opposition waltzing through our midfield like it isn't there.
Loan deal confirmed. Buy option of £26m. Pittance in today's market. In other news, Everton just bid £27m for Soton's £80m-rated Tyler Dibling. It was promptly rejected
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