Fulham star devastated as Bayern Munich move ‘100% off’ after medical and media duties
Fabrizio Romano has reported the deal which would have seen Joao Palhinha move from Fulham to Bayern Munich is now ‘100% off’ after the midfielder completed his medical and media duties.
It’s been an eventful transfer window for Fulham. They might well have seen three of their best players depart the club in the space of a few weeks.
At the beginning of August, after just re-signing Willian to a new one-year deal, he told them he wanted to leave for Al Shabab after agreeing personal terms, but he was forced to stay. Shortly after, Aleksandr Mitrovic did move to Saudi Arabia, heading to Al Hilal for a Cottagers club-record sale of £44million.
Midfield star Palhinha has been a target for multiple clubs throughout the summer. West Ham identified him as an ideal replacement for Declan Rice, but instead pursued other targets.
Bayern Munich then entered the picture, and Fulham sanctioned a £58million deal, allowing Palhinha to fly to Germany to sign, with the caveat that they needed to sign a replacement themselves before finalising the deal.
They opened talks with Manchester United regarding a move for Scott McTominay, but Fabrizio Romano reports nothing came of that.
Indeed, the transfer insider states there was ‘no deal on player side’. That’s had a big impact on Palhinha’s proposed move to Bayern, as Romano states it’s ‘100% off’ with ‘no way to change the situation’ as Fulham failed to secure a replacement.
That will be devastating for the midfielder, after he reportedly underwent his medical and media duties in Munich, before being told he’ll have to return to Fulham.
That move would have been a huge one for the Portuguese. Before moving to Fulham, he’d never played in a top-five European league.
His move to Craven Cottage last summer allowed him that opportunity, and he grabbed it with both hands, being one of the most impressive midfielders in the league while playing for a side that finished 10th in the Premier League.
As such, a move to Bayern would have been a massive step up for him, but after the window closed in Germany with the deal having not gone through, he won’t get the chance to make that big move until at least January, and maybe not even then.
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