Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal - November 14, 2021, Portugal's Joao Palhinha reacts.
According to The Athletic, Fulham are now extremely close to completing a deal for Sporting midfielder Joao Palhinha.
The Lowdown: Battle for Palhinha
Despite still having a solid four years remaining on his current contract at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, the 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Ruben Amorim’s side in recent weeks.
The Cottagers have for the most part been battling Premier League rivals Wolves for his signature, as it was reported earlier this month that the Wanderers had been in talks with the Portuguese star and even agreed a fee.
News has since emerged that Marco Silva has managed to convince his target to favour Craven Cottage instead, and after a fresh update, it would appear as though the switch is almost officially over the line.
The Latest: Fulham close to completing move
In a new article published by The Athletic, it’s claimed that Fulham are now ‘close to signing’ Palhinha for a fee believed to be in the region of €20m (£17.2m).
The source further states that the Sporting ace has recently been on holiday, but is ‘expected to conclude’ his move to the Whites as soon as he returns.
The Verdict: Adding a new dimension
Silva is believed to have identified the defensive midfield area as a priority position this summer ahead of the club’s awaited return to the top flight, and Palhinha will be a fantastic addition to Fulham’s starting XI when he puts pen to paper.
The 14-cap international, who was once dubbed a “special” player by his manager Amorim, made 38 appearances for Sporting across all competitions last season, and the 6 foot 3 colossus racked up a whopping three tackles per game in the Primeira Liga.
Perhaps, then, it is no surprise that members of the media have branded him a ‘sensational player’ for his performances this season.
If Palhinha can transition the same form that he’s displayed in Portugal to the Premier League, then he will surely go on to become a huge success and potentially even be the deciding factor in whether Silva can keep his side up this term.
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