Palhinha’s Departure: Bayern Is Considering Several Options | OneFootball

FC Bayern wants to sell Joao Palhinha this summer, and the Portuguese player wants to leave the record champions. That’s the current state of affairs. Talks with Aston Villa recently failed to reach a positive conclusion. 

The sticking point is said to have been that the Birmingham club offered Bayern Munich a loan deal, but Bayern is prioritizing a sale. Currently, Benfica and Newcastle United are in the running for the player; both would likely consider a direct purchase if necessary, but the situation is complicated.

After returning from Tottenham, where he was on loan last season, the player himself was even still hoping to prove himself once more during preseason. But Bayern Munich shut that door on him.

The Palhinha Standoff: Eberl Sets the Record Straight

After the Telekom Cup match against RB Leipzig, which Bayern Munich won 3–1, sporting director Max Eberl addressed the rumors that Bayern would ultimately only sell Palhinha.

“I never said it was only about a permanent deal. We’ll have to wait and see. These days, there are many different possibilities. It could be that someone says, ‘We’re willing to pay a high loan fee,’ and then we say, ‘Okay, we have to accept that,’” said Eberl.

Photo: Getty Images

Eberl also clarified that, logically, the club cannot force the player to take a specific step: “I can’t push João toward a specific club, and João can’t tell us, ‘I’ll only go to a specific club,’ and the other club can’t tell us, ‘I’ll only offer you this and nothing else.’ The discussions take place between three parties. And it has to work for everyone.”

Palhinha was not included in the record champion’s roster for the match against Leipzig. Max Eberl also confirmed that talks regarding a transfer are underway and that the club wants to be cautious to avoid risking an injury. However, these talks are not yet in the final, concrete stages. The negotiations continue. And it’s not just about a permanent transfer.