Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha has told Tottenham Hotspur he is interested in signing

Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha has told Tottenham Hotspur that he wants to join them and is open to a permanent move, according to journalist and transfer insider Ben Jacobs.

Arsenal were linked with the Portuguese earlier this summer, but it is Spurs who now want to bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club.

The North London club want Palhinha on loan, and the former Fulham star is keen to secure a return to the Premier League.

🚨 João Palhinha has told Spurs he wants to join, and is even open to a permanent move.

Spurs discussing a loan formula as it stands.🇵🇹

🤝 @alex_crookhttps://t.co/LUScSsFXVd

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 31, 2025

Spurs manager Thomas Frank wants a new number 6 and is not convinced that both Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are perfect for the role.

They are also in the final year of their contracts and will not be getting new deals from the look of things, so Tottenham are preparing for their potential departures next summer.

Palhinha is not a long-term solution as he is 30, but he fits the bill perfectly and is capable of providing three or four more seasons of quality services in the middle of the park.

The Portugal international spent two seasons at the Craven Cottage club, featuring in 68 Premier League games and weighing in with seven goals.

Signing the Bayern star could allow the likes of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall to push further forward on the pitch, and he is the type of defensive midfielder Frank loves having used Christian Norgaard well to achieve great results while at Brentford.

The Denmark international was also his captain but he has since joined the Gunners, and the Tottenham boss could do with his leadership and defensive qualities on the pitch.

Frank would get those attributes in Palhinha, and getting a deal over the line in the coming days will be huge for Spurs.