Aston Villa are in discussions to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha. The 31-year-old Portugal international emerged as a priority after Amadou Onana suffered an ACL injury to his right knee while playing for Belgium at the World Cup.
People close to Palhinha say he has not decided his next move but is receptive to joining Villa, with Villa Park seen as one of his leading options. Bayern are prepared to let him go two years after paying £47.4m to sign him from Fulham.
Palhinha spent last season on loan at Tottenham, but Spurs declined to activate a £26m purchase clause. Manager Roberto de Zerbi wanted to keep him after his role in helping Spurs avoid relegation, yet a deal with Bayern could not be reached.
Villa’s director of football, Damian Vidagany, told Bild that Palhinha would suit the club’s plans and that talks are ongoing, though no agreement is in place, adding any move would be made with full respect for Bayern. He spoke after Villa’s 2-1 pre-season defeat to Bayern in Hong Kong, where Palhinha came on as a substitute.
Unai Emery’s Europa League-winning squad has undergone significant change this summer. Morgan Rogers has joined Chelsea, Youri Tielemans has moved to Manchester United and Lucas Digne has signed for Paris St-Germain. Villa have brought in Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea, Joao Gomes from Wolves, Johan Manzambi from Freiburg and Moudou Keba Cisse from LASK Linz.