The next Javi Martínez? Bayern fail to sign Fulham midfielder João Palhinha

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It is a failure of epic proportions. Bayern Munich saw not one but three transfers collapse on transfer deadline day. On the lookout for a defender, Bayern saw talks with Southampton for Armel Bella-Kotchap and Chelsea for Trevoh Chalobah collapse on Friday. Bayern wanted to sign at least one of those two center-backs to replace Benjamin Pavard. Not getting those deals across the line will hurt. But even worse is the collapsed deal for Fulham midfielder João Palhinha. A potential €65m transfer for the 28-year-old defensive midfielder was not only agreed but Palhinha was in Munich with a Bayern jersey in hand ready to be presented. But pen was never put to paper on the contract that was supposed to run to 2028 as Fulham could not secure a replacement. 

Market Value

J. Palhinha Defensive Midfield

€55.00m

Palhinha joined Fulham in 2022 for €20m from Portuguese side Sporting and is under contract until 2027. Since joining the London-based club, Palhinha has increased his market value from €25m to €40m and is the most valuable player in Fulham’s squad. Bayern saw that market value as a much more realistic evaluation, and ultimately their €65m offer including bonuses was accepted. That fee would have made Palhinha the fourth most expensive signing in Bayern’s history and the most expensive departure in Fulham’s history ahead of Aleksandar Mitrovic. Mitrovic was sold for €52.6m to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal this summer. 

The failed transfer will come as a massive shock to Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, who made signing a new no.6 a priority this transfer window. "I've been asked about this five times now,” Tuchel said after Bayern’s 3-1 win over Augsburg last weekend when asked about wanting another no.6. “I said we only have three central midfielders who can play the holding midfield role, the moment someone gets injured, we'll only have two. And we play with a double pivot. So, it's all a matter of numbers.” Palhinha is just the latest failed transfer for Bayern. The club previously failed to secure Declan Rice from West Ham. Rice joined Arsenal instead. 

More than another no.6 – Why Bayern want Palhinha?

At the moment, Bayern have Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Konrad Laimer available in central midfield. Ryan Gravenberch can also play there but is currently in talks with Liverpool over a potential transfer. Then there is nominal left-back Raphaël Guerreiro, who last season also featured as a box-to-box midfielder for Dortmund. In other words, Tuchel, at a pinch, has three true midfielders plus Guerreiro available. But neither Kimmich, Goretzka nor Laimer are traditional defensive midfielders in a true no.6 mold. 

Player Comparison

João Palhinha

Javi Martínez

Fulham FC

Qatar SC

€55.00m

Market Value

€1.50m

28

Age

35

Defensive Midfield

Position

Defensive Midfield

Jun 30, 2028

Contract until

-

Full Player Comparison

The same cannot be said about Palhinha. According to Squawka, Palhinha led all top seven league players with 154 tackles since the start of the 2022/23 season. According to Wyscout, Palhinha led the Premier League last season with 337 defensive duels. Indeed, Palhinha has been favorably compared to former Bayern great Javi Martínez. Martínez, of course, was central to Bayern Munich’s treble success in the 2012/13 season and was also still in the squad for the 2019/20 treble season. Tuchel believed that Palhinha could have played a similar role for Bayern in the upcoming years but with the deal off Tuchel will now have to continue to improvise as the club will certainly try again to sign Palhinha in January.