- Newcastle United are interested in João Palhinha as the club rebuilds its midfield following the departures of Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali.
Newcastle target João Palhinha
Newcastle United have identified Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha as a target as Mathias Jaissle begins reshaping his midfield, according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are also accelerating their move for former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg from Marseille, with the player keen on a return to the Premier League.
Newcastle also wants Palinha as their midfield operator for next season to head the new arrivals, including Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur, as a part of the midfield rebuild. The 31-year-old Portuguese international is keen on moving to the Premier League, as multiple clubs, including Aston Villa and Newcastle United, are interested.
Villa is looking to add an experienced midfielder following the long-term injury of Amadou Onana.
Why Palhinha fits Newcastle's midfield rebuild
Palhinha's defensive positioning, ball recovery, and physical presence could give Newcastle a more disciplined option in front of the defense, particularly after the departure of Bruno Guimarães.
Palinha joined Fulham from Sporting CP in the summer of 2022 for £20 million. After 2 years he moved to Bayern Munich for a package of €56 million, but that spell did not live up to the expectations. Later, his career was followed by a loan move to Tottenham Hotspur in the 2025-26 season.
Bayern Munich and Palhinha seek a solution
Both the player and Bayern Munich are looking to find a solution to get regular playing time, and the preferred location is the Premier League.