Palhinha gaining traction, but Sporting won't move yet | OneFootball

After making Rodrigo Zalazar official, Sporting are now focusing on a deep overhaul of the midfield for 2026/27. Issa Doumbia is still being negotiated with Venezia for the number eight role, while João Palhinha has emerged as the big dream of Sporting’s board to take on the defensive midfield position.

The changes in the middle of the park promise to be significant. Hidemasa Morita will leave at the end of his contract, Morten Hjulmand is expected to be transferred in the summer, and Giorgi Kochorashvili could be put back on the market. In addition, Daniel Bragança is entering the final year of his deal and his future remains open, a scenario that forces the Lions to attack the market with top priority given to central midfield.

Palhinha’s return continues to gather momentum at Alvalade. The Portugal international, currently on loan at Tottenham from Bayern Munich, is seen as the ideal successor to Hjulmand. Sporting believe the player’s desire could be decisive, especially as the midfielder wants to return to Portugal to be closer to his family and has already turned down approaches from Turkey.

The possibility of staying at Tottenham will always depend on the player’s consent, even though there is a €30 million purchase option clause. That detail is keeping the Lions hopeful, and a loan with an option to buy currently appears to be the most likely scenario. Palhinha is also said to be willing to lower his salary to facilitate a return to the club where he was developed.

He joined Bayern in the summer of 2024 from Fulham, where he spent two seasons after leaving Sporting in 2022. The midfielder started only ten matches (out of a total of 25) before being loaned to Tottenham. In 2025/26, he has six goals and two assists in 43 matches.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.