£80m star's 'DREAM' transfer only 'postponed' after Deadline Day MADNESS

Updated: 4 Sept 2023 19:03 BST
3 min read

Joao Palhinha, Fulham, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Joao Palhinha was the protagonist of one of the craziest transfer stories on Deadline Day.

The Fulham star, who had been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal earlier in the summer, looked destined to be on the move at last. In fact, he was already in Munich completing his Bayern medical and media duties ahead of his proposed transfer, but his employer never gave the green light.

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The London club were looking for a replacement but couldn't find one this late in the window, which meant that they eventually pulled out of the negotiations despite it potentially being a very lucrative deal indeed, with some claiming that Fulham had slapped an £80 million price tag on the Portuguese midfielder.

READ: New Liverpool signing SLAMMED for 'WRONG CHOICE' as trouble brews

This refusal to let Palhinha leave also almost had serious repercussions for Liverpool, who were in the process of signing Bayern outcast Ryan Gravenberch. There were fears that the Germans would refuse to let him leave, but the Reds managed to still strike a deal.

Despite the transfer window now being closed, we haven't heard the last of this story.

© ProShots - Thomas Tuchel was furious after Bayern missed out on Palhinha

Bayern to try again

That is because neither Palhinha's side nor Bayern have kept quiet on the matter. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said he was sad and disappointed given that he had wanted a defensive midfielder all summer, while Fulham coach Marco Silva revealed that Palhinha was despondent after being denied a move to one of the world's biggest clubs.

Bayern will, however, try to sign the midfield enforcer again in January. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen indicated as much when he said "you always see each other twice in life."

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Moreover, Palhinha's agent, his brother Goncalo, echoed this sentiment. "They didn't kill the dream, they just postponed it. Very proud of my brother and the player I represent," he said.