Liverpool are reportedly hoping to fight off competition from Arsenal and Manchester United to sign Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha next month. The 28-year-old has been widely tipped to leave Craven Cottage since the end of last season and had his own Nabil Fekir moment in the summer when a proposed move to Bayern Munich fell through at the eleventh hour.
Palhinha arrived in Germany on the final day of the window and was even pictured holding a Bayern shirt, only for the deal to end up collapsing in dramatic fashion. It threw up memories of Fekir’s failed move to Liverpool in 2018, which fell through due to medical concerns after he had completed his first interview for the Reds’ official channels.
The Merseyside giants will certainly be hoping to avoid a repeat with Palhinha, who has emerged as a January target for several Premier League clubs, according to Sky Germany. Liverpool are said to be keen on bringing the Fulham ace to Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp widely expected to chase new signings in the winter market.
Arsenal and United have also registered an interest in Palhinha, according to TEAMtalk, with Fulham set to demand £60million in exchange for his signature. Bayern, meanwhile, are no longer thought to be in the running after cooling their interest following his failed summer move.
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Palhinha’s representatives are said to have already spoken with Liverpool, Arsenal and United in order to put the feelers out regarding a potential change of scenery. The report adds that Palhinha would much rather stay in the Premier League than secure a move abroad, which suggests that a three-way battle for his signature could be about to take shape.
Owen Hargreaves recently urged Liverpool to move for Palhinha to boost their Premier League title credentials, insisting that he is the missing piece of the puzzle for the Reds. He told Premier League Productions: “I think they are missing one player and that’s a defensive midfield player. I think if Palhinha plays for Liverpool they can win the league. He is that good.”
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Palhinha has been a key asset for Fulham this season, chipping in with two league goals from 11 starts and one substitute appearance. He recently signed a new long-term deal at the club until the summer of 2028, which was sanctioned due to the high amount of interest in his services.
Liverpool’s admiration for Palhinha dates back to the player’s arrival at Fulham, when he was linked with the Reds but ultimately ended up moving to Craven Cottage. However, it remains to be seen if a midfield signing will be a priority for Klopp, who might be tempted to pursue a central defender instead following the news of Joel Matip’s season-ending injury.
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