Fulham confident of keeping Palhinha past January

According to Evening Standard journalist Dom Smith, Fulham are confident that Joao Palhinha will still be their player when the January transfer window closes at the end of the month.

The 28-year-old midfielder was of strong interest to Bayern Munich last summer, with the Bundesliga champions keen to boost their ranks after the departure of Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool. In the end, Fulham couldn’t secure a proper replacement and the deal, which had apparently been agreed, fell through.

Palhinha soon signed a new contract with the Premier League side, set to keep him at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2028, and with an option for a 12-month extension after that. Fulham obviously hold all the cards in their hands, and it seems they don’t expect the Portugal international to push for an exit very hard. His services at the base of their midfield will likely be invaluable for the rest of the season as they aim to remain out of relegation-related conversations.