- Newcastle are stepping up their pursuit of João Palhinha after missing out on Højbjerg, but Aston Villa remain interested as Bayern demand a permanent deal.
Newcastle turn to Palhinha after Højbjerg setback
Newcastle United are stepping up in the pursuit of signing Joao Palhinha after missing out on their primary target, Hojberg, from Marseille, as per Ben Jacobs. Hojberg rejected the approach from Newcastle after giving the initial green light for the deal.
Palhinha would prefer a move to Aston Villa, but Bayern Munich are pushing for a permanent transfer rather than another loan.
Palhinha's difficult spell at Bayern Munich
Palhinha moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, but his chances were limited in the club under Vincent Kompany. Following the situation, he spent last season with Tottenham Hotspur on loan with an option to buy, but Spurs didn’t trigger the buy option.
The player's stance is to prefer a move to the Premier League over other leagues.
What Newcastle could gain from signing Palhinha
Newcastle United are accelerating the talks with the German giants for the deal, but Aston Villa are still writing off Palhinha, but they have to come up with a permanent deal for the midfielder to get a sale sanctioned from Bayern.
Palhinha would give Newcastle the physical presence and defensive strength they need in midfield. His ability to win the ball, protect the defense, and break up opposition attacks could add more balance to the team, while his experience in the Premier League means he would not need much time to adapt. With Newcastle losing key midfielders, his experience and ball-winning ability could make him an important addition to the rebuild.
Bayern are optimistic about offloading the player before the transfer window closes.