Arsenal Pursued Bayern Munich's High-Profile Player Prior to the Club World Cup; Spending by Mikel Arteta Already Approaching £200m This Summer
**Arsenal Miss Out on Joao Palhinha as Transfer Talks Stall**
Arsenal's pursuit of Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha has come to a halt, with the Premier League club failing to reach an agreement with the German giants.
Despite reported interest in securing the services of the Portuguese midfielder, Arsenal and Bayern Munich were unable to find common ground on the terms of a transfer. Bayern Munich had expressed a willingness to sell Palhinha for £26 million, but an agreement could not be reached[1][3].
The Gunners' focus appears to have shifted away from Palhinha, as they have strengthened their midfield with the signings of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard. These acquisitions may have reduced their immediate need for another defensive midfielder like Palhinha[1][2].
Arsenal's spending this summer is nearing £200m, with Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, and Viktor Gyokeres having already completed moves, and more signings expected in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Palhinha remains a coveted player, with Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan among the clubs reportedly interested in his services. Spurs have held talks to sign Palhinha, viewing him as a potential replacement for Yves Bissouma. Palhinha's experience in London, particularly with Fulham, makes a move back to England appealing to him[1].
Inter Milan is also keen on Palhinha, offering another viable destination for the midfielder[1][2]. Interest from clubs in Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Portugal has been reported, though Inter Milan and Tottenham are among the more prominent suitors[3].
Palhinha's move to Bayern Munich last summer came at a cost of £48m, after being bought by Fulham for around £17m in 2022. However, he failed to make much of an impact in his first season at the Allianz Arena, starting only seven matches and being sidelined with injuries for more than two months. Despite winning the Bundesliga in his debut season, Palhinha endured a disappointing campaign in the league, failing to contribute a goal or an assist in his 17 appearances[4].
Palhinha is only open to an 'absolutely top offer', such as the Arsenal move, but he is still intent on succeeding at Bayern Munich[5]. Bayern Munich, with an abundance of central midfield options, could limit Palhinha's game time this season. The German champions also have Konrad Laimer, who plays in midfield but has been filling in at right-back[6].
Fulham have explored a potential return for Palhinha, as the midfielder looks to rediscover his form that saw him score eight goals in 79 appearances for the London club during his two-year stint in the Premier League[7].
[1] - The Athletic [2] - Sky Sports [3] - Goal.com [4] - BBC Sport [5] - Bild [6] - ESPN [7] - Sky Sports
Despite the stalled transfer talks, Arsenal could still turn their attention to other European leagues, seeking players with quality in football and the Premier League. European leagues boast a wealth of talented midfielders, and Arsenal may find a suitable replacement for Joao Palhinha from these sources.
Although Joao Palhinja's European leagues' journey is temporarily on hold with Arsenal's withdrawal, other clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan continue to show interest in the midfielder, making his potential move back to England a viable option.
