Marco Silva wants Palhinha at Benfica, deal could happen | OneFootball

João Palhinha is one of the midfielders admired by Marco Silva and is on Benfica’s list of potential signings, with the club already aware of the outline of a possible deal to sign the Portugal international from Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old defensive midfielder spent last season on loan at Tottenham, but he will not remain with Spurs.

He is also not part of Bayern’s plans for 2026/27, so he is expected to change clubs again in this summer transfer window. Sporting even considered bringing back their former captain, but ultimately secured the signing of Sergi Altimira, reducing the priority given to the matter, though without definitively ruling out that possibility.

Despite the interest shown by the Eagles, Glorioso 1904 knows that, at the start of the summer, João Palhinha had no intention whatsoever of playing for Benfica. The situation has since changed and, given the lack of suitors, the player’s future could now take a turn.

João Palhinha maintains an excellent relationship with Marco Silva, the coach who managed him at Fulham and played an important role in the midfielder’s rise in the Premier League, a factor that could work in Benfica’s favor.

In 2025/26, while playing for Tottenham, João Palhinha — valued at €15 million — featured in 45 official matches: 33 in the Premier League, eight in the Champions League, two in the EFL Cup, one in the FA Cup and one in the UEFA Super Cup. In the 2,917 minutes he was on the pitch, the holding midfielder scored seven goals and provided two assists.

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